Center for Research in Space Technologies (CREST)

In Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM)

In Space Assembly and Manufacturing is a research focus of the CREST team, with publications appearing in the Journal of Space Safety Engineering, and presented at the International Astronautical Congress and Astrodynamics Specialist Conference among others. CREST researchers pioneered the STARFISH robot. Biologically inspired and composed of shape memory alloy, which fulfills the need for a robot that functions accurately and efficiently in zero gravity environments. 

An image of a prototype satellite, called a "satbot" that has been built by researchers.

Explore all ISAM Publications

Wiring diagram for the STARFISH controller, consisting of an arduino connected to MOSFET, relay, batteries and other devices.
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CAD Diagram of the Ground Testing Platform, Generation II design
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Various photos and depictions of octopus tendrils.
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Rajguru, A., Eyre, E., Ebrahimi, M., Barnhart, D., Adam, R., Griffith, T., Chibuzor, D., Haq, S., Nguyen, J., Le, J., “CLINGERS: Optimizing RPO Ease for Assembly Operations,” 2022 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2022.

Renteria, M., Blair, C., Mellano, C., Snow, H., Do, K., Cislowski, B., Estrada, S., Barnhart, D., “STARFISH: Soft Translatable Actuated Robot for in Space Handling,” 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2021.

Smat, M, Barnhart, D., Villafaña L., Overman, K., “Cellular Based Aggregated Satellite System: The Design and Architecture of a Three Degree of Freedom Near-Frictionless Testbed for Ground Validation of CubeSat Operations,” 34th Annual Small Satellite Conference. Logan, Utah, 2020.

Rughani, R., Barnhart, D.A., “Safe Construction in Space: Using Swarms of Small Satellites for In-Space Manufacturing,” 34th Annual Small Satellite Conference. Logan, Utah, 2020.

Barnhart, D., Rughani, R., “On-orbit servicing ontology applied to recommended standards for satellites in earth orbit,” Journal of Space Safety Engineering, 2020.

Rughani R., Barnhart, D.A. “Using Genetic Algorithms for Safe Swarm Trajectory Optimization,” 30th AIAA/AAS Space Flight Mechanics Meeting. Orlando, Florida, 2020.

Narayanan, S., Barnhart, D., Rogers, R., Dean, G., Bernstein, S., Singh, A., Almeida, O., Sampathkumar, S., Maness, E., and Rughani, R. -USC; Ruffatto, D., Schaler, E., Van Crey, N., Bhanji, A., Junkins, E.- JPL; “REACCH – Reactive Electro-Adhesive Capture ClotH Mechanism to Enable Safe Grapple of Cooperative/Non-Cooperative Space Debris,” 30th AIAA/AAS Space Flight Mechanics Meeting. Orlando, Florida, 2020.

Rughani, R., Villafana, L., Barnhart, D., “Swarm RPO and Docking Simulation on a 3DOF Air Bearing Platform,” 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), 2019.

Barnhart, D., Duong, R., Villafana, L., Patel, J., Annapureddy, S., “The Development of Dynamic Guidance and Navigation Algorithms for Autonomous On-Orbit Multi-Satellite Aggregation,” 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) Washington DC, 2019.

Bezouska, W., Barnhart, D., “Sensor Selection Strategies for Satellite Swarm Collaborative Localization,” Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2019.

Bezouska, W., Barnhart, D., “Visual sensor selection for satellite swarm cooperative localization,” SPIE Defense and Security Conference, 2019.

Bezouska, W., Barnhart, D., “Spacecraft Pose Estimation and Swarm Localization performance under Varying Illumination and Viewing Conditions,” AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, 2019.

Ritter, M., Barnhart, D., “Geometry Characterization of Electro-adhesion Samples for Spacecraft Docking Application,” IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky Montana, 2017.

Bento da Silva, G., Barnhart, D., “Optimized R/B’s Rendezvous Study for Active Debris Removal,” Center for Orbital Debris Education and Research (CODER) Conference, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2016.

Barnhart, D., Sullivan, B., Hill, L., Will, P., Chappel, L., Ratti, J., Benedict, B., VanOmmering, G., “DARPA Phoenix Payload Orbital Delivery System (PODs),” AIAA SPACE Conference & Exposition, AIAA 2013-5484, San Diego, CA, 2013.

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