Low-cost relative navigation sensors for miniature spacecraft and drones

摘要: Proximity relative navigation systems for autonomous small spacecraft and Micro Aerial Vehicles are under continuous investigation, aiming to obtain low-cost low-resources miniaturized sensors. In this paper, after a review on the state of art cooperative non-cooperative miniature space aerial vehicles, two simple, low cost devices proximity presented. The first one is conceived operation between exploits dual system comprising camera imaging an array LEDs LED-photodiode couple precise range estimation based intensity measurements. second sensor designed perform ranging attitude determination with respect objects in space, air or ground. It that detects light spots target surface generated by three lasers mounted chaser vehicle. Theoretical models have been developed both sensors, were used preliminary assessment performance through numerical simulations.