AEROSPACE SYSTEMS LAB

Main activities:

Design and development of techniques for the analysis of optical measurements of Earth orbiting objects.

In particular the activity aims to the dynamical (Trajectory and Attitude motion) and physical (material, colour, shape, area-to-mass ratio) characterization of space debris.

To achieve space debris optical measurements the laboratory produces and operates observatories dedicated to space debris measurements. Astrometry and photometry is persecuted exploiting a network of small observatories deployed all over Italy, multicolour photometry and spectroscopy is performed from the Loiano observatory in Bologna and in collaboration with the Cerro Tololo observatory of the University of Michigan.

Moreover, the laboratory of Aerospace system design, manufacture and test components and subsystems for aircraft and spacecraft. In particular the activities in this field involve a system for supporting landing of airplanes, helicopters and drones based on optical tracing of the target and systems for testing microsatellite components as vacuum chamber and Helmholtz coils for simulating variable magnetic field.

Tools:

- Workbenches and tools for designing and building small spacecraft

- COTS quadricopter 

- Vacuum chamber and Helmotz coil to simulate orbital environment

- Hexapod rover with cameras and infrared radar for testing motion algorithms

- CNC milling machine for production of small parts

- Electronics development facility

- Microcontrollers test bench (Arduino, raspberry, PIC)

Software:

• Matlab and Simulink toolboxes and blocksets, 

• Codes for astrodynamic analysis (STK, Astos)  

• Tools for Cad and electronics design (CATIA, ORCAD, eagle)