Docking structure
A docking structure for a satellite includes a magnetic plate and a housing for mounting and constraining the magnetic plate. The magnetic plate includes an outer face and an inner face. The magnetic plate includes a soft magnetic material. The housing extends around at least part of a perimeter of the magnetic plate, over at least part of the outer face of the magnetic plate and over at least part of the inner face of the magnetic plate to mount and constrain the magnetic plate.
1 . A docking structure for a satellite, the docking structure comprising:
a magnetic plate; and
a housing for mounting and constraining the magnetic plate;
wherein the magnetic plate comprises an outer face and an inner face;
wherein the magnetic plate comprises a soft magnetic material; and
wherein the housing extends around at least part of a perimeter of the magnetic plate, over at least part of the outer face of the magnetic plate and over at least part of the inner face of the magnetic plate to mount and constrain the magnetic plate;
wherein the docking structure comprises a resilient material between at least part of the housing and the magnetic plate; and
wherein a base plate of the housing comprises one or more projections that contact an inner face of the magnetic plate, and wherein the resilient material is arranged between the one or more projections.
2 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic plate comprises a step around at least part of the perimeter of the magnetic plate.
3 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic plate comprises a lip around at least part of the perimeter of the magnetic plate.
4 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic plate comprises a step and a lip around at least part of the perimeter of the magnetic plate, wherein the lip extends towards the perimeter of the magnetic plate from the step.
5 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic plate comprises a non-permanent magnetic material.
6 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an aperture, wherein the outer face of the magnetic plate is mounted in the aperture of the housing.
7 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an outer rim arranged to retain the magnetic plate, and a base plate adjacent the inner face of the magnetic plate.
8 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the outer rim projects inwards from the perimeter of the housing; and/or
wherein the housing comprises one or more fasteners to connect the base plate to the outer rim.
9 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a groove that receives at least a part of the perimeter of the magnetic plate.
10 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a groove that is formed between the base plate and an outer rim of the housing, wherein the groove receives at least a part of the perimeter of the magnetic plate.
11 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the docking structure comprises one or more fasteners that connect the magnetic plate to the housing.
12 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more projections comprise one or more ridges.
13 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the docking structure comprises an attachment member connected to the housing for attaching the docking structure to a satellite.
14 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the docking structure comprises one or more fiducial markers.
15 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the docking structure comprises a plurality of fiducial markers, wherein the plurality of fiducial markers are a plurality of different shapes and/or sizes; and/or
wherein one or more of the one or more fiducial markers comprises a pattern and/or is reflective.
16 . The docking structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein one of the fiducial markers substantially surrounds another of the fiducial markers; and/or
wherein the magnetic plate comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged fiducial markers and a plurality of circular fiducial markers.