High Strain Composite Booms for Sampling, Mobility and Manipulation

The proposed innovation is to adapt Opterus high strain composite boom and deployer technologies and apply the low-mass, low-power dust tolerant technology to robotic arms for low-gravity environments. A boom enabled robotic arm enables surface sampling, mobility, and manipulation in an extremely compact, low mass sub system. The high structural performance and low mass features of Opterus booms and deployment mechanisms can support a greater range of end effectors for scooping, drilling, grasping, or otherwise acquiring samples or manipulating surface objects. Opterus is also investigating continuous roll-to-roll fabrication methodsfor kilometer scale HSC booms. The objective of the proposed work is to fabricate prototype boom deployer mechanisms and experimentally demonstrate the technical feasibility of high strain composite booms applied to a variety of robotic mobility, manipulation, and sampling tasks through laboratory testing and ground demonstrations. Opterus will employ an iterative development approach using the analysis, design, build, test cycle. In the course of HSC development programs, we have found a balance between build and analysis to be most effective and we expect to achieve 3-5 cycles in this program. New HSC booms often require 10-20 build iterations to achieve desired objectives. Development will be accelerated here because of Opterus extensive experience with high strain composite booms. Opterus proposes High Strain Composite (HSC) Booms for Robotics, a lightweight rollable boom architecture for robotic sampling, mobility, and manipulation. HSC booms excel over state of the art boom technologies in both cost and performance. Opterus has developed a broad range of rollable boom technologies produced with a variety of cross sections and lengths depending on mission requirements and are commonly used in deployable spacecraft structures. The proposed innovation is to adopt Opterus’ high strain composite boom and deployer technologies and apply the low-mass, low-power dust tolerant technology to robotic arms for low-gravity environments. A boom enabled robotic arm enables surface mobility, manipulation and sampling functions in an extremely compact, low mass sub system. The high structural performance and low mass features of Opterus’ booms and deployment mechanisms can support a greater range of end effectors for scooping, drilling, grasping, or otherwise acquiring and manipulating surface objects. The proposed Phase II effort is focused on prototype development, fabrication, test, and demonstration of the system layout developed in the Phase I effort. The primary application that was identified in Phase I and the primary focus of the Phase II demonstration efforts are directed to spacecraft sampling operations. Successful prototype testing and demonstration will validate the boom and deployer technology, manufacturability and functionality for spacecraft-based sampling operations. While there is a deep understanding of high strain composite boom performance and manufacturing processes within Opterus and the industry to date, the system proposed here is the largest scale slit-tube boom and deployer assembly the company has designed or built. Key objectives of the proposed effort include: Scaled-up tooling and manufacturing process validation Fabrication of Slit-tube boom and Recirculating Belt Deployer prototype 20-30m deployed length Complete laboratory test to validate TRL 4 Structural and Functional Testing Successful demonstration of relevant applications Proof of Concept Sampling Demonstration In addition to the contractually required reporting deliverables Opterus will provide a single prototype boom and deployer assembly to the NASA customer.

HSC booms are enabling for NASA’s next generation of robotic architectures for multiple small-body sample-return missions such as from Ceres, comets, and asteroids. Further, planetary missions such as the Ocean Worlds program with surface and deep drills for Europa, and future missions to Enceladus, Titan, and other planetary bodies with subsurface oceans. With a renewed interest in return to Earth's Moon, the mobility and sampling technologies will support future robotic missions to the Moon and Mars. Non-NASA markets include similar operations but in-space rather than small bodies or planets. On-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing is a key DoD market for the robotic arm architectures enabled by Opterus’ HSC booms.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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