The purpose of our experiment is to analyze and evaluate compliant hinges based on range of motion, torsional stiffness, parasitic motion, and strain relief in microgravity, so we can compare the effectiveness of compliant and traditional hinges.

Before compliant mechanisms, the aerospace industry struggled with manufacturing, assembly, and mechanical failures in space applications. Traditional pin-style hinges in spacecraft components were and still are  complex to assemble, prone to wear, and lack a degree of reliability and performance.

Our team has initiated a thorough examination of compliant hinges as a superior alternative to traditional pin-style hinges in aerospace applications. Further experimentation with compliant hinges could lead to streamlining the assembly process of space mechanisms, increasing reliability, and reducing mechanical wear and failure in space environments. In the future, compliant hinges could be a preferable solution for actuating spacecraft components when placed on satellites and space stations.