Abstract: A pincer system is comprised of an array of pincers. Each pincer includes an inner disk having legs that are pushed downwards onto a pliable material to cause protuberances, while an outer disk is rotated to simultaneously squeeze the extruded material between its legs and those of the stationary inner disk. Tracks provide for slideable movement of the individual pincers. The system, carrying an attached micro-satellite, translates across a pliable material covering a spacecraft by coordinating the movement of the pincers with their grasping of the pliable material. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and is intended to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method for making grid-stiffened structures as provided. The method includes providing a base tool having a plurality of grooves and an expansion tool having a plurality of compaction grooves therein for fitting into a plurality of the base tool grooves so as to define compaction grooves therein. A plurality of prepreg tows are then wound into the compaction grooves. A skin is then placed over the so-wound tows, the expansion tool and the base tool to define an assembly. The assembly is then bagged and autoclaved so that the expansion tool expands to provide lateral pressure to compact the prepreg tows in the compaction grooves to shape same into ribs to form a rib-stiffened structure. An analytical thermal model is developed to predict the behavior of the expansion tool.