Design of Docking Interfaces for On-Orbit Assembly of Large Structures in Space

Considering the complexity of on-orbit assembly during space missions and the super-large size of space structures, this paper presents the design for a new type of docking interface with an androgynous body that exhibits a number of advantages, including high connection strength and a compact structure. The androgynous body has a conical guided symmetric design with a symmetry of 90°. The geometric design of the docking surface is described in detail in order to prove its advantages. Structural design was carried out using UG modeling as well as dynamic simulation using Recur Dyn to obtain the displacement coordinate curves of the docking port. The geometry of the docking port's high docking misalignment tolerance was verified, and misalignment tolerance and lens splicing experiments were also performed. The docking port's ability to be quickly connected or disconnected within a translation tolerance of 23.5 mm and a tilt tolerance of 24° was verified. This article provides a useful reference for space missions in terms of module docking and on-orbit assembly.