A system comprising: a first object having an energy-assisted bonding mechanism along a surface of the first object, the EAB mechanism including a heat-activatable adhesive layer and a carbon-filled sheet material, the CF sheet material extending alongside the adhesive layer or through the adhesive layer, the CF sheet material being electrically conductive for resistive heating, and a mounting face; a coupling actuator having an actuator body with a mating face; a power source; electrodes (252, 254) operably coupled to the power source; and a control sub-system operably coupled to the coupling actuator and the power source, the control sub-system configured to: control the coupling actuator to drive the actuator body toward the first object, the coupling actuator configured to apply pressure to the EAB mechanism along the surface of the first object; and control the power source to apply a current through the CF sheet material of the EAB mechanism to provide thermal energy through resistive heating that activates the adhesive layer along the interface, characterized in that the mating face is sized and shaped to engage the mounting face of the first object, the mating face of the actuator body and the mounting face of the first object engaging each other when the actuator body is driven towards the first object; and the electrodes (252, 254) are attached to the actuator body and are positioned at distal ends of projections (256, 258) of the actuator body, respectively, wherein the electrodes (252, 254) approach the EAB mechanism as the actuator body approaches the first object, the EAB mechanism being engaged by the electrodes (252, 254) to cause the current to flow through the CF sheet material of the EAB mechanism. a first object having an energy-assisted bonding mechanism along a surface of the first object, the EAB mechanism including a heat-activatable adhesive layer and a carbon-filled sheet material, the CF sheet material extending alongside the adhesive layer or through the adhesive layer, the CF sheet material being electrically conductive for resistive heating, and a mounting face; an energy-assisted bonding mechanism along a surface of the first object, the EAB mechanism including a heat-activatable adhesive layer and a carbon-filled sheet material, the CF sheet material extending alongside the adhesive layer or through the adhesive layer, the CF sheet material being electrically conductive for resistive heating, and a mounting face; a coupling actuator having an actuator body with a mating face; a power source; electrodes (252, 254) operably coupled to the power source; and a control sub-system operably coupled to the coupling actuator and the power source, the control sub-system configured to: control the coupling actuator to drive the actuator body toward the first object, the coupling actuator configured to apply pressure to the EAB mechanism along the surface of the first object; and control the power source to apply a current through the CF sheet material of the EAB mechanism to provide thermal energy through resistive heating that activates the adhesive layer along the interface, characterized in that control the coupling actuator to drive the actuator body toward the first object, the coupling actuator configured to apply pressure to the EAB mechanism along the surface of the first object; and control the power source to apply a current through the CF sheet material of the EAB mechanism to provide thermal energy through resistive heating that activates the adhesive layer along the interface, characterized in that the mating face is sized and shaped to engage the mounting face of the first object, the mating face of the actuator body and the mounting face of the first object engaging each other when the actuator body is driven towards the first object; and the electrodes (252, 254) are attached to the actuator body and are positioned at distal ends of projections (256, 258) of the actuator body, respectively, wherein the electrodes (252, 254) approach the EAB mechanism as the actuator body approaches the first object, the EAB mechanism being engaged by the electrodes (252, 254) to cause the current to flow through the CF sheet material of the EAB mechanism.