Autonomous Navigation around Asteroids using Convolutional Neural Networks

Missions to small bodies are increasingly gaining interest as they might hold the secrets to our solar system’s origin while some are also posing a threat to life on Earth. The small size and irregular shape result in complex dynamics complicating the close-proximity operations. Furthermore, due to the long round-trip time communication delays...

Robust Navigation Framework for Proximity Operations around Uncooperative Spacecraft: A monocular vision-based navigation approach using deep learning

Autonomous vision-based navigation is a crucial element for space applications involving a potentially uncooperative target, such as proximity operations for on-orbit servicing or active debris removal. Due to low mass and power characteristics, monocular vision sensors are an attractive choice for onboard vision-based navigation systems. This...