RESEARCH PROJECTS
Robotic net-based capture of targets
Tether-nets are a promising method to capture debris on orbit and dispose of it safely. The inherent structural flexibility of a net presents various under-explored operational paradigms, ranging from passive nets relying on entanglement to complex active solutions with maneuverable corner elements that are equipped with varying degrees of sensing and control capabilities. The overall goal of this research is to develop computational approaches to perform a formal exploration of the resulting distinct operational paradigms and associated design choices that are jointly effective at capturing different types of targets in the presence of uncertainty.
Net-based capture of space debris
Tether-nets are a promising method to capture debris on orbit and dispose of it safely. We are working on a number of topics in the area: Simulation of the dynamics and its validation, Control of the deployment and capture, determination of the success or failure of capture in an automated way, and post-capture estimation and control.
