Arresting-Cable System for Robust Terminal Landing of Reusable Rockets

Recent successful recovery techniques for rockets require that maintain a vertical configuration with zero and lateral velocities; otherwise, landings may fail. To relax this requirement, new active-arresting system (inspired by the arresting gears used on aircraft carriers) is proposed herein to achieve robust landing, even if rocket deviates from target position or has notable residual velocities inclinations. The consists of four deployable onboard hooks above rocket’s center mass, an on-ground apparatus containing cables forming square capture frame, buffer devices actively catch passively decelerate landing rocket. rocket, frame was controlled servo motors via simple proportional–derivative controller. After catching, generate decelerating forces stop its motion. A flexible multibody model built evaluate performance under various combinations multiple uncertainties, such as noise measurement, time delay in motor, initial conditions, wind excitation. Using quasi-Monte Carlo method, hundreds deviated cases were generated simulated. results confirmed robustness achieving terminal landings.