Coulomb Force Virtual Space Structures

Recently, several uses for intercraft Coulomb forces have been explored. Proposed applications have ranged from creating static formations of many spacecraft to steerable nanosat deployment systems. This paper considers the use of Coulomb forces for creating space structures. Unlike conventional space structures, these ”virtual space structures” have no physical connections. Instead, they are held together by maintaining specific charges at their node points. This form of structure is thus readily expandable, can be reconfigured to different shapes, and is easily deployed. Fundamental concepts are covered in conjunction with a control law illustrating the ability to form a structure with conventional stiffness and damping coefficients that can be actively modified.