Matteo Dentis

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Elisabetta Punta

Universitatea Politehnica din Bucuresti

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Papers by Matteo Dentis

Development of Innovative GNC Algorithms for Aerospace Applications

Questi anni di dottorato sono stati senz'altro impegnativi, ma hanno anche contribuito alla mia c... more Questi anni di dottorato sono stati senz'altro impegnativi, ma hanno anche contribuito alla mia crescita personale e professionale, regalandomi molte soddisfazioni. Il risultato di questo lavoro è anche merito di tutti coloro con cui ho avuto il piacere di collaborare e che mi hanno aiutato a superare le numerose sfide che ho dovuto affrontare in questi tre anni, ma è anche merito di chi mi è stato vicino e mi ha supportato, incoraggiandomi sempre e non solo nelle sfide più impegnative. Vorrei quindi ringraziare i miei tutori, il Prof. Giorgio Guglieri, la Prof.ssa Fulvia Quagliotti e l'Ing. Simona Ferraris, grazie ai quali non sarebbe stato possibile iniziare e concludere questo percorso, Raffaele Aulisio, per tutti i consigli ed i suggerimenti che mi ha dato durante la nostra stretta collaborazione, e tutti i ragazzi del COSE Centre di Thales Alenia Space, che mi hanno nuovamente ospitato in questi tre anni. Assieme a loro, vorrei anche ringraziare tutti coloro con cui ho avuto il piacere di collaborare al Politecnico di Torino, in particolare l'Ing. Elisa Capello, ma anche amici e colleghi dottorandi con cui abbiamo condiviso questo percorso. Vorrei ringraziare la mia famiglia, che dopo le lauree triennale e magistrale, mi ha nuovamente supportato e sopportato durante il dottorato. Un ringraziamento speciale va alla mia dolce metà, Ilaria, che mi ha accompagnato fin dall'inizio di questo percorso e che più di tutti mi ha sempre aiutato ad affrontare con ottimismo e tenacia tutte le sfide incontrate in questi anni, spronandomi a dare sempre il meglio di me stesso e sopportando tutti i miei sfoghi: sei stata il mio punto di riferimento e lo sarai per sempre. Spero di avervi resi orgogliosi! Matteo These years of Ph.D. studies have certainly been challenging, but they have also contributed to my personal and professional growth, giving me many satisfactions. The result of this work is also due to all those with whom I had the pleasure of collaborating and who helped me to overcome all the challenges I faced in these three years, but it is also due to those who have been close to me and supported me, always encouraging me and not only in the most demanding challenges. I would like to thank my tutors, Prof. Giorgio Guglieri, Prof. Fulvia Quagliotti and Eng. Simona Ferraris, thanks to whom it would not have been possible to start and finish this path, Raffaele Aulisio, for all the advice and suggestions he gave me during our close collaboration, and all the guys at COSE Center in Thales Alenia Space, who have hosted me again in these three years. Together with them, I would also like to thank all people with whom I had the pleasure of collaborating at the Politecnico di Torino, in particular Eng. Elisa Capello, but also friends and PhD fellows with whom we shared this path. I would like to thank my family, who, after bachelor and master degrees, have supported and sustained me during my Ph.D. studies. A special thanks goes to my sweet half, Ilaria, who has accompanied me since the beginning of this journey and that more than anyone has always helped me to face with optimism and tenacity all the challenges encountered in these years, encouraging me to always give the best of my ability and enduring all my outbursts: you have been my point of reference as you will be forever. I hope I have made you proud! Matteo

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Robust Attitude Control Systems for Small Satellites

70th International Astronautical Congress, 2019

Precise Attitude Control Techniques: Performance Analysis From Classical to Variable Structure Control

Advances in Spacecraft Attitude Control, 2020

Small satellites have begun to play an important role in space research, especially about new tec... more Small satellites have begun to play an important role in space research, especially about new technology development and attitude control. The main objective of this research is the design of a robust flight software, in which the key feature is suitably designed control laws to guarantee the robustness to uncertainties and external disturbances. To accomplish the desired mission task and to design the robust software, a classical Proportional Integrative Derivative (PID) method and two robust control system technologies are provided, focusing on applications related to small satellites and on the real-time implementability. Starting from PID approach, simulations are performed to prove the effectiveness of the proposed control systems in different scenarios and in terms of pointing stability and accuracy, including uncertainties, measurement errors, and hardware constraints. Different control techniques are analyzed: (i) a tube-based robust model predictive control (MPC) and (ii) a variable gain continuous twisting (CT) sliding mode controller. Both controllers are compared with loop shaping PID controller.

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A Comprehensive RVD Simulation Environment for GNC Algorithms Design and Implementation

Performance Analysis of an Attitude Control System for Small Satellites

Quasi-flyable Predictive Guidance Algorithms for orbital RVD missions

Sliding Mode Techniques for Precise Attitude Control

Attitude Control of a Small Spacecraft for Earth Observation via Tube-based Robust Model Predictive Control

2018 AIAA SPACE and Astronautics Forum and Exposition, 2018

An Innovative Cloud-based Supervision System for the Integration of RPAS in Urban Environments

Transportation Research Procedia, 2017

This paper proposes the outline of a Cloud-based supervision system for Remotely Piloted Aircraft... more This paper proposes the outline of a Cloud-based supervision system for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), which are operating in urban environments. The novelty of this proposed concept is dual: (i) a Cloud-based supervision system focusing on safety and robustness, (ii) the definition of technical requirements allowing the RPAS to fly over urban areas, as a possible evolution of drone use in future smart cities. A new concept for the regulatory issues is also proposed, compared with existing worldwide regulations. The Cloud framework is intended to be an automated system for path planning and control of RPAS flying under its coverage, and not limited to conventional remote control as if supervised by a human pilot. Future works will be based on the experimental validation of the proposed concept in an urban area of Turin (Italy).

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Attitude Control of a Small Spacecraft via Tube-Based Model Predictive Control

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2019

Precise attitude tracking control of small satellites is a demanding task due to the limited hard... more Precise attitude tracking control of small satellites is a demanding task due to the limited hardware resources of sensors, actuators, and processors equipped on board. Moreover, the effects of model uncertainty and persistent disturbance, such as gravity-gradient, magnetic, aerodynamic, and solar radiation pressure torques, on the satellite dynamics make the attitude control of miniaturized spacecraft more challenging. Consequently, under actuator limitations and stringent pointing requirements, robust controllers represent a more reliable solution to comply the mission constraints. In this paper, a tube-based robust model predictive control algorithm is exploited to address robust attitude control of CubeSat within an Earth-observation scenario, and its performance is evaluated. The proposed algorithm successfully achieves the three-axis stabilization required by the payload, using reaction wheels and applying constraints on the actuator torque and speed saturation as well as on pointing accuracy. To properly estimate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the comparison with a nonlinear model predictive control is presented with the consideration of different sample times. The robustness of these two control schemes is then compared running 100 simulations, each one with random initial condition. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed robust algorithm for precise attitude tracking control of small satellites.

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Obstacle Avoidance with Potential Field Applied to a Rendezvous Maneuver

Applied Sciences, 2017

This paper outlines a method based on the theory of artificial potential fields combined with sli... more This paper outlines a method based on the theory of artificial potential fields combined with sliding mode techniques for spacecraft maneuvers in the presence of obstacles. Guidance and control algorithms are validated with a six degree-of-freed (dof) omorbital simulator. The idea of this paper is to provide computationally efficient algorithms for real time applications, in which the combination of Artificial potential field (APF) and sliding mode control shows the ability of plan trajectories, even in the presence of external disturbances and model uncertainties. A reduced frequency of the proposed controllers and a pulse width modulation (PWM) of the thrusters are considered to verify the performance of the system. The computational performance of APF as a guidance algorithm is discussed and the algorithms are verified by simulations of a complete rendezvous maneuver. The proposed algorithm appears suitable for the autonomous, real-time control of complex maneuvers with a minimum on-board computational effort.

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Regulation analysis and new concept for a cloud-based UAV supervision system in urban environment

2017 Workshop on Research, Education and Development of Unmanned Aerial Systems (RED-UAS), 2017

This paper proposes new rules for the regulation of a Cloud-based Remotely Piloted Aircraft Syste... more This paper proposes new rules for the regulation of a Cloud-based Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), which is operating in urban environment. The novelty of this proposed regulation is dual: (i) regulation of a Cloud-based system focusing on safety and robustness, (ii) definition of requirements for the RPAS in urban area. A new concept for the regulation is proposed, compared to existing worldwide regulations. Moreover, the Cloud framework and the proposed RPAS are described. The Cloud framework should be intended to be an automated system for path planning and control of RPAS flying under its coverage, and not limited to remotely control RPAS by pilots. Future works will be the experimental validation of the proposed system in Turin area.

A Novel Concept for Guidance and Control of Spacecraft Orbital Maneuvers

International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2016

The purpose of this paper is the design of guidance and control algorithms for orbital space mane... more The purpose of this paper is the design of guidance and control algorithms for orbital space maneuvers. A 6-dof orbital simulator, based on Clohessy-Wiltshire-Hill equations, is developed in C language, considering cold gas reaction thrusters and reaction wheels as actuation system. The computational limitations of on-board computers are also included. A combination of guidance and control algorithms for an orbital maneuver is proposed: (i) a suitably designed Zero-Effort-Miss/Zero-Effort-Velocity (ZEM/ZEV) algorithm is adopted for the guidance and (ii) a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) is used for the attitude control. The proposed approach is verified for different cases, including external environment disturbances and errors on the actuation system.

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Reusable space tug concept and mission

Acta Astronautica, 2016

The paper deals with the conceptual design of a space tug to be used in support to Earth satellit... more The paper deals with the conceptual design of a space tug to be used in support to Earth satellites transfer manoeuvres. Usually Earth satellites are released in a non-definitive low orbit, depending on the adopted launcher, and they need to be equipped with an adequate propulsion system able to perform the transfer to their final operational location. In order to reduce the mass at launch of the satellite system, an element pre-deployed on orbit, i.e. the space tug, can be exploited to perform the transfer manoeuvres; this allows simplifying the propulsion requirements for the satellite, with a consequent decrease of mass and volume, in favour of larger payloads. The space tug here presented is conceived to be used for the transfer of a few satellites from low to high orbits, and vice versa, if needed. To support these manoeuvres, dedicated refuelling operations are envisaged. The paper starts from on overview of the mission scenario, the concept of operations and the related architecture elements. Then it focuses on the detailed definition of the space tug, from the requirements' assessment up to the budgets' development, through an iterative and recursive design process. The overall mission scenario has been derived from a set of trade-off analyses that have been performed to choose the mission architecture and operations that better satisfy stakeholder expectations: the most important features of these analyses and their results are described within the paper. Eventually, in the last part of the work main conclusions are drawn on the selected mission scenario and space tug and further utilizations of this innovative system in the frame of future space exploration are discussed. Specifically, an enhanced version of the space tug that has been described in the paper could be used to support on orbit assembly of large spacecraft for distant and long exploration missions. The Space Tug development is an activity carried on in the frame of the SA-PERE project (Space Advanced Project Excellence in Research and Enterprise), supported by Italian Ministry of Research and University (MIUR), and specifically in its STRONG sub-project (Systems Technology and Research National Global Operations) and related to the theme of space exploration and access to space. * 2000kg has been assumed as a preliminary estimation, further analyses will be carried to refine this assessment.