Numerical simulation of docking dynamics of a docking simulating test facility

In order to verify the performance of docking mechanism and to investigate docking process dynamics, a physical simulating test facility was designed according to the requirement of the space docking assignment in China. The mathematical models of docking dynamics in the process of capture were established for the facility. Interacting contact forces and torques of the docking test facility were obtained through simulation calculation. Simulation results show that the docking mechanism can successfully capture under given docking initial conditions, and the contact forces and torques of the test facility provide an important basis for the design of the test facility. Simulation results can verify the design parameters of the buffer system and the corresponding docking strategy.