CONNECTION ASSEMBLY
Exemplary embodiments provided herein include connection systems in which a gripper is actuated through introduction of a material to an interior cavity. Embodiments may include more than one cavity such that deployment and actuation may be separately controlled. Additional cavities may also be used and/or selection of valves between cavities such that actuation and/or deployment may further be controlled.
1 . A connection system, comprising:
one or more booms, the one or more booms having a stored configuration, a deployed configuration, and a closed configuration,
wherein each of the one or more booms comprises two inflatable cavities, the two inflatable cavities separately inflatable.
2 . The connection system of claim 1 , further comprising a capture surface coupled to the one or more booms.
3 . The connection system of claim 1 , where a first of the two inflatable cavities defines a first length, and the second of the two inflatable cavities defines a second length.
4 . The connection system of claim 3 , wherein the second length is longer than the first length.
5 . The connection system of claim 4 , wherein terminal end regions of the two inflatable cavities are coupled and the two inflatable cavities are coupled together periodically along the first length.
6 . The connection system of claim 5 , further comprising a hub.
7 . The connection system of claim 6 , wherein the hub is inflatable.
8 . The connection system of claim 7 , wherein the capture surface comprises a mesh.
9 . A method of capturing a target object, comprising: providing a gripper;
deploying the gripper to a first configuration; and deploying the gripper to a second configuration.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising storing the gripper in a reduced configuration.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the gripper comprises at least two inflation cavities.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein deploying the gripper to a first configuration comprises inflating a first of the at least two inflation cavities.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein deploying the gripper to a second configuration comprises inflating a second of the at least two inflation cavities.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising separating the gripper from a housing.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising enclosing the target object by inflating the gripper to the second configuration.