Engineering Commons^™

Vision-Based Sensing And Optimal Control For Low-Cost And Small Satellite Platforms, Bradley Sease

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current trends in spacecraft are leading to smaller, more inexpensive options whenever possible. This shift has been primarily pursued for the opportunity to open a new frontier for technologies with a small financial obligation. Limited power, processing, pointing, and communication capabilities are all common issues which must be considered when miniaturizing systems and implementing low-cost components. This thesis addresses some of these concerns by applying two methods, in attitude estimation and control. Additionally, these methods are not restricted to only small, inexpensive satellites, but offer a benefit to large-scale spacecraft as well. First, star cameras are examined for the tendency …