From the experience of smart structures to smart manufacturing: a general approach for the realization of a Space Smart Factory

The concept of smart structure reflects the current Industry 4.0 principles, where manufacturing facilities function as smart systems, capable of self-awareness through sensing capabilities and real-time adaptability to market demands leading to the idea of cyber-physical systems (CPS). These concepts are particularly relevant for the space industry, which is experiencing rapid changes due to the entrance of private companies and the emergence of satellite mega-constellations. In this paper the authors propose a framework for leveraging Industry 4.0 concepts in manufacturing processes of the space industry, emphasizing the role of CPS and identifying smart structures as archetypes.