Study of a Space Articulated Deployable System Using a UML-Based Approach

A space articulated deployable system is a complex multi-linkage mechatronic system mainly to support the space payloads, such as solar arrays, deployable antennas and space telescopes. Given the complexity of the analysis and design for this system, an iterative modeling process based on UML (Unified Modeling Language) approach is proposed for the space deployable mechatronic system. The function and non-function requirements for the space articulated deployable system are described by using the use case model and supplementary specifications. According to the enhanced component diagram, the design model of the space articulated deployable system is built to show the composition and internal information of the complex system. Furthermore, the distance matrix for the designed system is derived to analyze the topology characteristics of the model and evaluate the system design. It is believed that the UML-based modelling method can not only simply verify the consistency and completeness of the system model, but play an important role to build the conception design theory of the complex space mechatronic system.