Âé¶¹ÒùÔº


Discovering hidden wrinkles in spacecraft membranes with a single camera

Discovering hidden wrinkles in spacecraft membranes with a single camera
Model of wrinkling on a rectangular membrane. Credit: Measurement (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2024.116123

Exiting Earth's gravity takes an enormous amount of fuel and power. Due to this, spacecraft strapped to rockets are limited in their carry capacity and every gram must be accounted for.

To lighten the load, thin membranes are being researched as , but their plastic wrap property causes wrinkling that can affect operational performance. For this reason, there is a need to develop measurement technology that can accurately detect deformations.

Professor Takashi Iwasa at Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Engineering led a team in developing a method for measuring the size of wrinkles that have formed across thin membranes using photogrammetry and a single camera. The findings were in Measurement.

By examining photographs taken of the surface before and after putting stress on the material, the amplitude and wavelength of wrinkles can be detected. Measurement points are printed on the membrane and changes in their position indicate deformation.

Discovering hidden wrinkles in spacecraft membrane with a single camera
Detecting changes in the surface of spacecraft thin membrane. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

"In the past, multiple cameras were required, but in this research, the size of the wrinkles can be easily detected by applying tension-field theory for the measurement result of a single- photogrammetry," stated Professor Iwasa.

"We are conducting this research on large thin membrane and expect this method to be used where there is limited space for installing cameras."

More information: Takashi Iwasa et al, Monitoring thin membranes for wrinkles using single-camera photogrammetry, Measurement (2024).

Citation: Discovering hidden wrinkles in spacecraft membranes with a single camera (2025, January 9) retrieved 15 August 2025 from /news/2025-01-hidden-wrinkles-spacecraft-membranes-camera.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

New method achieves controllable tuning, assesses instability in 2D materials for engineering applications

0 shares

Feedback to editors