Lorenzo Pasqualetto Cassinis

Delft University of Technology | TU · Department of Space Engineering (SpE)

The following chapter gives an overview on modern techniques for guidance, navigation, and control (GNC). In particular, an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques is provided in light of a tailored application to the space domain. Thanks to their enormous success in a great variety of applications and fields, modern AI techniques can b...

The estimation of the relative pose of an inactive spacecraft by an active servicer spacecraft is a critical task for close-proximity operations, such as In-Orbit Servicing and Active Debris Removal. Among all the challenges, the lack of available space images of the inactive satellite makes the on-ground validation of current monocular camera-base...

The relative pose estimation of an inactive spacecraft by an active servicer spacecraft is a critical task in the design of current and planned space missions, due to its relevance for close-proximity operations, such as In-Orbit Servicing and Active Debris Removal. This paper introduces a novel framework to enable robust monocular pose estimation...

The estimation of the relative pose of an inactive spacecraft by an active servicer spacecraft is a critical task for close-proximity operations, such as In-Orbit Servicing and Active Debris Removal. Among all the challenges, the lack of available space images of the inactive satellite makes the on-ground validation of current monocu-lar camera-bas...

This paper introduces a novel framework which combines a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for feature detection with a Covariant Efficient Procrustes Perspective-n-Points (CEPPnP) solver and an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to enable robust monocular pose estimation for close-proximity operations around an uncooperative spacecraft. The relative po...

This paper reports on a comparative assessment of Image Processing (IP) techniques for the relative pose estimation of uncooperative spacecraft with a monocular camera. Currently, keypoints-based algorithms suffer from partial occlusion of the target, as well as from the different illumination conditions between the required offline database and th...

The relative pose estimation of an inactive target by an active servicer spacecraft is a critical task in the design of current and planned space missions, due to its relevance for close-proximity operations, i.e. the rendezvous with a space debris and/or in-orbit servicing. Pose estimation systems based solely on a monocular camera are recently be...

This paper reports on the reconstruction of key orbital elements of the Earth's orbit around the Sun from a miniaturized temperature sensor onboard the Delfi-C 3 CubeSat, a novel approach never explored before to the best of our knowledge. Delfi-C 3 is a triple-unit CubeSat, developed by Delft University of Technology, which was launched on April 2...

A COMSOL Multiphysics®-based analysis of an innovative thermal actuation system capable of overtaking the traditional electrostatic comb drive, nowadays used for actuating the shutter array of variable emittance radiators, has been conducted as to validate this technology for the future active thermal control of CubeSats operating in an harsh envir...