Umbilical Panel Mating Automation
June 18, 2026Blue Origin Engineering, 2025–26
Liaison(s): Mark Abrams, Angela Hsueh ’02, Scott Fletcher
Advisor(s): Gordon Krauss
Students(s): McKenna McMurray (TL-S), Will Sedo (TL-F), Wilson Zambrano, Sheridan Dorsey, Tay Han (S), Elena Schwartz (S), Eleanor Champlin-Wilson (F), Thiven Anderson (F), Luke Vlases (F)
Blue Origin, an American aerospace company, commissioned the Clinic team to improve upon the existing umbilical mating and demating system for a launch vehicle. Improvements will support the program’s long-term operational cadence. The Clinic team accomplished the goal by designing a mechanical test bed and control algorithm for a self-aligning umbilical mating system. The system enables rapid mating and demating of umbilical panels under realistic motion and environmental conditions.