energy chain with low installation height for robots in guidance system for spacecraft

This mechanism is used at Lockheed Martin's SOSC facility in Colorado to design and test autonomous guidance systems for spacecraft. For this purpose, energy chains were required for two different robots in the facility, which enable a travel of approx. 76 metres (250 feet). Despite the large dimensions of the system, a particularly flat cable routing was required so that a large robot in the test system could travel over the e-chain® and its guide trough. In addition, a section of around 15 metres (50 feet) of the energy chain had to be free of guide trough to allow the vehicle and equipment to move smoothly in this area.

The reliable functioning of all system components and the energy chain solution is particularly important in the aerospace industry because every use of the test system is an expensive and critical task. The scientists and engineers at Lockheed Martin are dependent on their equipment working flawlessly.
Although the section without a guide trough was relatively long, an excellent solution was found that addresses all the problems in the system. Today, a roller energy chain is used together with a customised guide trough. The roller energy chain has been developed to enable particularly long travel distances at high travelling speeds. The low coefficient of friction of the systems enables travelling with less drive power, thus protecting the chain and increasing durability. The result is a reliable cable solution which, thanks to its low installation height, also makes perfect use of the space available in the track embedded in the floor. An e-chain® was also installed for the rotational movement of the test stand in the tower. In addition, drylin® linear systems and igubal ®-bearing are also used in the constructions.