MD Robotics is the company that built the Canadarm for the International Space Station. Engineers (including
a friend of Mr. Meyer) are working on a way to use the arm to launch small satellites. The idea is to attach a
launch pad (1200 kg) to the hand (350 kg) of the arm. A small satellite (300 kg) is mounted on the launch pad.
A coiled spring (k = 1.7 x 10 5 N/m) is compressed and when it is released, it pushes the satellite off the launch
pad with a speed of 2 m/s as measured by the international space station.
You are part of the team helping to design this system. A junior engineer presents you with a rough design and
the specifications listed above. You want to: (1) check how far the spring should be compressed. You know
that this spring loses 9.7% of its stored energy to thermal energy.
Due to the launch, the hand and launch pad will recoil. After the launch, the motor of the arm will exert a force
to slow down the hand plus launch pad. The hand should stop after a 20 cm distance. You want to: (2) check
that the force required will not exceed the 2.4 x10 4 N that the motor is designed for.
1 answer
1 answer