Seminar on "Onboard predictive guidance and control for aerospace vehicles and robots" Hyeongjun Park - New Mexico State University

Abstract: The talk will present real-time control algorithms using model predictive control (MPC) approaches and a hybrid automaton framework for spacecraft missions. The first part of the talk will introduce real-time MPC approaches for spacecraft rendezvous and proximity operations to achieve obstacle avoidance and docking with a rotating target. Experimental results on an air-bearing testbed demonstrate the efficacy of the real-time MPC controllers. An on-going research project is also introduced with simulation results for NASA Astrobee robots operating in the International Space Station (ISS). The MPC approaches are applied to obstacle avoidance maneuvers of the free-flying robots in ISS. In the second part of the presentation, a hybrid automaton framework is given with application examples. A multi-algorithmic attitude determination and control system based on the hybrid automaton framework achieves fine-pointing attitude control for small satellites. Simulation and experimental results on a three-axis air-bearing testbed are analyzed and discussed.

Hyeongjun Park is currently an Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, in 2014, all in aerospace engineering. He was a Postdoctoral Research Associate of U.S. National Research Council at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA from 2015 to 2017. His current research interests include real-time optimal control of constrained systems, guidance and control of spacecraft proximity operations, attitude determination and control of small satellites, CubeSat mission design, and control of a multicopter with robotic arms.

For information contact Dott.ssa Elisa Capello, elisa.capello@polito.it