A thermal vacuum environment adaptive design method and test for a space manipulator joint

The space manipulator joint will work in the harsh space environment, which is enough small and light suitable for a space robotic arm to equip to the quick launch space service aircraft to reduce the cost and improve the flexibility. The thermal vacuum environment is a major environmental factor affecting the performance and reliability of the space manipulator joints, which will reduce the cooling efficiency of the electronic equipment and the lubrication effect of joint transmission system. A design method of the space manipulator joints´ adaptability to the thermal vacuum environment is described in the paper, and the performance and reliability of the space manipulator joints in extremely high-/low-temperature vacuum environment is tested through thermal vacuum test. It proves that the vacuum thermal environment adaptive design method and the analysis process are reasonable.