Date of Award

9-2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

Richard G. Cobb, PhD

Abstract

Autonomous on-orbit satellite servicing benefits from an inspector satellite that can gain as much information as possible about the primary satellite. This includes performance of articulated objects such as solar arrays, antennas, and sensors. A method for building an articulated model from monocular imagery using tracked feature points and the known relative inspection route is developed. Two methods are also developed for tracking the articulation of a satellite in real-time given an articulated model using both tracked feature points and image silhouettes. Performance is evaluated for multiple inspection routes and the effect of inspection route noise is assessed. Additionally, a satellite model is built and used to collect stop-motion images simulating articulated motion over an inspection route under simulated space illumination. The images are used in the silhouette articulation tracking method and successful tracking is demonstrated qualitatively. Finally, a human pose tracking algorithm is modified for tracking the satellite articulation demonstrating the applicability of human tracking methods to satellite articulation tracking methods when an articulated model is available.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENY-DS-18-S-060

DTIC Accession Number

AD1147172

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