Analytical and experimental evaluation of impact dynamics on a high-speed zero G motion simulator

In a new stage of space development, collision and contact tasks under micro-gravity, such as docking, orbital servicing, and touchdown to a minor body, are now increasingly being considered. A hybrid motion simulation consisting of both physical and numerical models is an effective method to test the motions of a spacecraft under zero G on the ground. The authors have developed a hybrid zero G motion simulator based on a highspeed parallel link mechanism. A wide response bandwidth and high stiffness of the simulator have made it possible to simulate the contact motions with high precision. In this paper, they evaluate analytically the simulator characteristics and verify experimentally the impact of dynamics on the hybrid motion simulation by comparing it with a collision experiment under zero G in a drop-shaft facility. The results imply that the simulator is highly reliable for the impact dynamics simulation under zero G.