STELLIFEX combines independently mobile Worker Units with prepared worksite interfaces. Each Worker can free-fly to an assigned fixture, dock and latch, deploy its manipulator, and acquire a prepared handle.
Cooperative Orbital Robotics
Robotic teams for infrastructure work in space.
KenCorp Aerospace Systems LLC develops autonomous robotic systems for constructing and maintaining infrastructure in space. STELLIFEX is our primary program: a cooperative platform built around multiple mobile robotic Worker Units.
Primary Program
STELLIFEX
System Model
Multiple Worker Units
Current Maturity
Simulation-Validated
STELLIFEX System Architecture
Independent Robot
Worker A
Free-flight / Dock / 6-DOF arm
Shared Control
Coordination Engine
One object trajectory
Independent Robot
Worker B
Free-flight / Dock / 6-DOF arm
Cooperative Task
Shared Object
Acquire / Move / Place / Release
Prepared Interface
Worksite
Dock / Anchor / Install
Reference Mission
Two Workers approach independently, anchor at prepared fixtures, acquire a shared object, and execute one coordinated placement path.
Primary Program
One object path. Multiple independent robots.
During manipulation, the Coordination Engine maps one time-indexed object trajectory through fixed grasp transforms to synchronized tool targets. The Workers cooperate on the same object motion instead of planning separate object paths.
STELLIFEX
A cooperative platform for prepared orbital work.
The architecture is intended for assembly, installation, and maintenance tasks where multiple mobile robots must share a load and coordinate motion at a known worksite.
Free-Flight Mobility
Worker Units navigate independently through assigned approach corridors before terminal contact with the worksite.
Docking And Anchoring
Manipulation begins only after both Workers are physically seated, latched, settled, and verified ready at prepared fixtures.
Cooperative Manipulation
Six-degree-of-freedom arms acquire prepared handles and follow synchronized targets derived from one shared-object trajectory.
Mission Logic
Each transition is earned by the system state.
STELLIFEX uses phase gates to keep mobility, docking, acquisition, manipulation, release, and departure in a controlled sequence. A failed gate holds, retreats, retries within a limit, or stops.
Approach and dock
Each Worker reaches a prepared fixture, makes physical contact, and verifies its latch before arm motion begins.
Acquire and coordinate
Both grippers establish verified contact before the shared object follows the planned path.
Place and depart
The system verifies placement, releases the object, retracts both arms, unlatches, and retreats.
Reference Sequence
- 01AssignWorkers, handles, fixtures
- 02ApproachFree-flight and contact
- 03AnchorDual latch verification
- 04AcquireBilateral handle contact
- 05ManipulateShared object trajectory
- 06ReleaseStow, unlatch, retreat
Engineering Status
Validated in simulation. Advancing toward physical demonstration.
The current baseline integrates two free bases, twelve arm joints, two contact grippers, one shared object, and two finite-compliance latches in a single multibody simulation.
These are simulation-development results from a limited sampled configuration set, not flight qualification or hardware validation. The next program phase is a measured ground demonstration.
Technical Collaboration