A High-Accuracy Deployment Mechanism Designing Based on Kelvin Couplings with Active Locking Devices

A high-accuracy deployment mechanism is designed based on Kelvin couplings with active locking devices in this article, in order to satisfy the requirement of 0.005° repetitive positioning error for new payloads' in-orbit deployment. Repetitive positioning accuracy led by the errors of locking forces and contacting positions on couplings is calculated analytically assuming the coupling's deformations are elastic. The qualification test shows the presented mechanism satisfies the requirement of payloads and the analytical approach of the repetitive positioning accuracy is valid in practice.