Robotics and AI-Enabled On-Orbit Operations With Future Generation of Small Satellites
Open accessAbstract
The low-cost and short-lead time of small satellites has led to their use in science-based missions, earth observation, and interplanetary missions. Today, they are also key instruments in orchestrating technological demonstrations for On-Orbit Operations (O3) such as inspection and spacecraft servicing with planned roles in active debris removal and on-orbit assembly. This paper provides an overview of the robotics and autonomous systems (RASs) technologies that enable robotic O3on smallsat platforms. Major RAS topics such as sensing & perception, guidance, navigation & control (GN&C) microgravity mobility and mobile manipulation, and autonomy are discussed from the perspective of relevant past and planned missions.
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On-orbit proximity operations require precise and robust 6D pose estimation under a wide range of lighting conditions and against highly textured background (Earth).
“On-orbit proximity operations in space rendezvous, docking and debris removal require precise and robust 6D pose estimation under a wide range of lighting conditions and against highly textured background, i.e., the Earth.”
From Deep Learning for Spacecraft Pose Estimation from Photorealistic Rendering (2020) · cites this paper as [1]
Cites
Opromolla, R., Fasano, G., Rufino, G., & Grassi, M. (2017) · Progress in Aerospace Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2017.07.001 · Cited by 330 · see citing works
Spaceborne Autonomous Formation-Flying Experiment on the PRISMA Mission
D'Amico, S., Ardaens, J.-S., & Larsson, R. (2012) · Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics · doi:10.2514/1.55638 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
The Restore-L Servicing Mission
Reed, B. B., Smith, R. C., Naasz, B. J., Pellegrino, J. F., & Bacon, C. E. (2016) · AIAA SPACE 2016 · doi:10.2514/6.2016-5478 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
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Deep Learning for Spacecraft Pose Estimation from Photorealistic Rendering
Proenca, P. F., & Gao, Y. (2020) · 2020 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) · doi:10.1109/icra40945.2020.9197244 · Cited by 229 · see citing works
“Spacecraft position and attitude estimation is essential to on-orbit operations [1], e.”
BackgroundSelf-citationApplications and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Space Missions
Oche, P. A., Ewa, G. A., & Ibekwe, N. (2024) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2021.3132500 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
“In [17], Nanjangud et al . provide an overview of the RASs technologies that enable O3 on smallsat platforms.”
BackgroundCosmas, K., & Kenichi, A. (2020) · Aerospace · doi:10.3390/aerospace7110159 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Deep Learning for Spacecraft Pose Estimation from Photorealistic Rendering
Proenca, P. F., & Gao, Y. (2019) · arXiv · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Nanjangud, A., Blacker, P. C., Bandyopadhyay, S., & Gao, Y.
- Affiliations
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (US)
- Venue
- Proceedings of the IEEE
- Published
- 2018-03
- Volume
- 106
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 429-439
- ISSN
- 0018-9219 (ISSN-L)
- 1558-2256
- OpenAlex
- W2788921116
- Cited by
- 67
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 5.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- qmro.qmul.ac.uk
- Locations
- Proceedings of the IEEE (publishedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Queen Mary Research Online (Queen Mary University of London) (submittedVersion)
- Rare & Special e-Zone (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Space Technology and Applications
- Keywords
- on-orbit operations, small satellites, spacecraft servicing, active debris removal, on-orbit assembly, guidance, navigation and control, mobile manipulation, autonomy, space robotics
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