Patent — available for licensing
Single-Action-Lock Structural Space Joint
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
On Earth, most joining systems are effective in human centric environments with virtually unlimited joining supplies. As an assembly agent, a human possesses two 27 degree-of-freedom (DOF) hands, each attached to a 7 DOF arm, all mobilized by an adaptive human body. Humans can complete complex assembly tasks that may be hindered by physical obstructions. However, robotic systems remain the preferred workforce for future in-space assembly missions, offering lower cost, reduced risk, and minimized operational overhead. In-space structure assembly is still constrained by the finite availability of joining supplies and the limited dexterity of robotic manipulators Innovators at NASA's Langley Research Center have developed a novel Single-Action-Lock Structural Space (SSS) Joint designed for use in robotic assembly or humans in spacesuits with limited range of movement. This joint system addresses the critical need for simplified, reliable, and tool-minimal connections in environments where dexterity is constrained and every component must be optimized for mass, volume, and operational efficiency.