A Trajectory Planning Framework for Experimental Module Manipulator On-Orbit Servicing

This article proposes a novel trajectory planning framework for the Experimental Module Manipulator (EMM) on-orbit servicing (OOS). For a start, the simulation system of the EMM based on Open Inventor is developed, and the trajectory planning technical route of the EMM for OOS missions is illustrated, including two main phases: large-scale transfer and small-scale approach. Before trajectory planning, the Gilbert–Johnson–Keerthi convex bounding boxes of the CSS and the EMM are modeled. Moreover, we present a Cartesian-space collision-free planning scheme. For the different task requirements in the above two phases, two corresponding collision-free trajectory planning schemes in joint space are proposed. Finally, simulations of the EMM supporting an astronaut extra-vehicular activity verify the effectiveness of our trajectory planning framework and all of the schemes presented in this article.