Military applications include on-orbit assembly of spacecraft from specific subsystems needed for a particular mission, creation of new spacecraft configurations, or reconfiguration of existing spacecraft. Non-space military applications of AUTOCONNECT include soldiers? clothing, where sensors, communications equipment, instruments, etc, can be simply attached as needed for the battlefield environment. AUTOCONNECT allows assembly of systems without connectors and cables, e.g., computer and home electronic systems, ?smart? walls in buildings, where sensors/monitors can be attached anywhere, etc. Elimination of connectors and cables will make systems lighter, more compact, and improve both the aesthetics and safety at home and the workplace. The proposed technology will enable NASA to build large systems in space using smaller, modular subsystems, refurbish spacecraft already in orbit with new technology subsystems/payloads, and service/repair existing subsystems. This modular, on-orbit assembly approach, combined with our concept of modular spacecraft architectures, is especially suited for NASA?s vision of swarms or fleets of spacecraft flying in formation on distributed science missions. Cost is reduced by manufacturing identical modules in large quantities, but in addition, our approach allows the selection of desired modules and their assembly into a customized spacecraft using AUTOCONNECT and the advanced control algorithms we propose to develop.
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