Company - Altius Space Machines (Voyager Space)
Product/Service - Bulldog Servicer
- Classification
- In-Space Transportation
- Category
- On-Orbit Servicing
- Fields
- In-Space Satellite Servicing
- Status
- Concept, Acquired
- First launch
- Not announced
Bulldog
- The small form factor is enabled by the use of our EMBARC (Electromagnetic Boom-Assisted Robotic Capture) magnetic capture arm. EMBARC is a 6DOF, long-reach (>3m) extendable/retractable robot arm with a 2DOF shoulder, an extendable/retractable composite boom acting as a linear degree of freedom, a 3DOF articulated wrist, and a dual-mode electropermanent magnetic grapple head at the distal end.
- The EMBARC arm enables reliable capture at a safe distance from client spacecraft equipped with a magnetic grapple fixture like Altius' DogTag, even if they’re tumbling or moving relative to the servicer. This eliminates the need for high-thrust formation flight for capturing tumbling targets, and enables the use of high-efficiency low-thrust propulsion systems for most maneuvers. Bulldog includes a traditional 6DOF arm for connecting refueling interfaces, and installing or assembling modules onto a client spacecraft. Because EMBARC handles the highly-dynamic spacecraft capture process, this second servicing arm has greatly relaxed technical requirements.
DogTags
MagTags
In Space Assembly
Altius’ ESCHER interface provides a universal interface for autonomous in-space or lunar surface assembly. Acting as both a structural interconnect and a grapple interface, it enables robotic systems to pick, place, and latch modular pieces of structure with the click of a button. The lightweight, dust tolerant, design uses EPM latching technology to ensure high reliability and removes the need for complex robotic manipulation or tool changing during the assembly process.
Redundant mechanical latches mean the interface is robust against anything you throw at it and the scalable form factor is ready to be integrated into your most challenging application.
Altius to Contribute Technology to Robotic Arms for DoD On-Orbit Servicing
The contract enables Altius to assist Maxar in developing two flight-ready robotic arms, each 2 meters in length. Each arm will be underactuated, with a single motor running a tensioned cable system to transmit torque to any number of joints, reducing weight and cost. Altius will supply novel and capable interfaces for each robotic arm, a key technology for the success of the project. We will provide our MagTag™ universal satellite servicing interface, and our Dust Tolerant Tool-changer Interface (DTTI).
Status Comment / Notes
As of early 2023, the website does not seem to mention Bulldog servicing vehicle and offer in-space servicing services. Setting the status as Concept (and possibly Cancelled) in the context of in-space economy and this database.
News, Research, Projects and Patents
| Title | Type | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voyager Subsidiary, Altius Space Machines, Inc. Announces Both a SBIR and STTR Contract Win to Develop Innovative Technologies for Satellite Servicing | News, Project | 2020-08-31 | > Selected to participate in a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to further develop in space servicing capabilities using its patented electropermanent magnet (EPM) technology. |
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