US 12,448,152 B2
In-space grasping system and method of operation
Lee Carlson, Broomfield, CO (US); Shazad Sadick, Franklin Square, NY (US); Jeffrey I. Shasho, Brooklyn, NY (US); John Wilson, Brooklyn, NY (US); Jonah E. Saltzman, Brooklyn, NY (US); Erik Mumm, Longmont, CO (US); and Jason Herman, North Bellmore, NY (US)
Assigned to Honeybee Robotics, LLC, Longmont, CO (US)
Filed by Honeybee Robotics, LLC, Longmont, CO (US)
Filed on Oct. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/916,248.
Application 18/916,248 is a continuation of application No. 17/323,519, filed on May 18, 2021, granted, now 12,214,912.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/027,579, filed on May 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2025/0033805 A1, Jan. 30, 2025
Int. Cl. B64G 1/64 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/641 (2013.01) [B64G 1/6462 (2023.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling system comprising:
a passive unit having a first side and a flange opposite the first side, the first side having a first recess with a first lip and a second recess with a second lip, the first lip and second lip including a first portion and a second portion separated by a semi-circular portion; and
an active unit comprising:
an actuator;
a cam mechanism operably coupled to the actuator, the cam mechanism being movable from a stowed position to a deployed position; and
a plurality of capture rollers coupled to the cam mechanism by a plurality of posts to move from a first position to a second position in response to the cam mechanism moving from the stowed position to the deployed position, the plurality of capture rollers engaging the first lip and second lip in the second position when the passive unit is in contact with the active unit.