AbstractThe capability of an active spacecraft to accurately estimate its relative position and attitude (pose) with respect to an active/inactive, artificial/natural space object (target) orbiting in close-proximity is required to carry out various activities like formation flying, on-orbit servicing, active debris removal, and space exploration. According to the specific mission scenario, the pose determination task involves both theoretical and technological challenges related to the search for the most suitable algorithmic solution and sensor architecture, respectively. As regards the latter aspect, electro-optical sensors represent the best option as their use is compatible with mass and power limitation of micro and small satellites, and their measurements can be processed to estimate all the pose parameters. Overall, the degree of complexity of the challenges related to pose determination largely varies depending on the nature of the targets, which may be actively/passively cooperative, uncooperative but known, or uncooperative and unknown space objects. In this respect, while cooperative pose determination has been successfully demonstrated in orbit, the uncooperative case is still under study by universities, research centers, space agencies and private companies. However, in both the cases, the demand for space applications involving relative navigation maneuvers, also in close-proximity, for which pose determination capabilities are mandatory, is significantly increasing. In this framework, a review of state-of-the-art techniques and algorithms developed in the last decades for cooperative and uncooperative pose determination by processing data provided by electro-optical sensors is herein presented. Specifically, their main advantages and drawbacks in terms of achieved performance, computational complexity, and sensitivity to variability of pose and target geometry, are highlighted.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    A review of cooperative and uncooperative spacecraft pose determination techniques for close-proximity operations


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2017-07-18


    Size :

    20 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    CNN-Based Pose Estimation System for Close-Proximity Operations Around Uncooperative Spacecraft

    Pasqualetto Cassinis, Lorenzo / Fonod, Robert / Gill, Eberhard et al. | AIAA | 2020


    CNN-BASED POSE ESTIMATION SYSTEM FOR CLOSE-PROXIMITY OPERATIONS AROUND UNCOOPERATIVE SPACECRAFT

    Cassinis, Lorenzo Pasqualetto / Fonod, Robert / Gill, Eberhard et al. | TIBKAT | 2020


    Uncooperative Spacecraft Pose Estimation Using an Infrared Camera During Proximity Operations

    Shi, Jian-Feng / Ulrich, Steve / Ruel, Stephane et al. | AIAA | 2015


    Mapping and Pose Estimation of an Uncooperative Rotating Target for Spacecraft Proximity Operations

    Jinzhen, Mu / Shuqing, Cao / Yu, Zhang et al. | Springer Verlag | 2021