The Space Dynamics and Flight Control Laboratory (SDFCL) is a research and development laboratory of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. SDFCL carries out fundamental and applied research activities in the convergence of Astrodynamics and Control to enable future aggregated and disaggregated satellite missions. These include but are not limited to spacecraft attitude dynamics, combined attitude and orbit control, spacecraft formation flying, rendezvous – docking and berthing of cooperative and non-cooperative targets, as well as pose estimation of moving targets. The vision of SDFCL is to ensure that control algorithms are used as effectively as possible for small satellite on-orbit operations, which will advance robotic and human space exploration. SDFCL is responsible for designing, developing, validating, and embedding the necessary cutting-edge technologies for on-orbit servicing for future space missions. To achieve the same, a first-generation spacecraft simulator testbed at IIT Kanpur is under development that would be used to test and validate new maneuvering controls for rendezvous and docking, new mission concepts for on-orbit servicing, and new algorithms for GN&C.

Current Research Highlights:

1. Combined Attitude and Orbit Control

2. Autonomous Berthing of Spacecrafts

3. Control for Spacecraft Rendezvous and Docking

4. On-orbit servicing Concepts

5. Hybrid Controls for Autonomous Vehicles

6. Non-Linear and Adaptive Controls for Aerospace Systems

7. Conceptual and Architectural Design Approaches for Space Systems

We are looking motivated and hardworking students who have already proven themselves in research. If you are interested in our research area, please send an email to dkgiri@iitk.ac.in. Students who completed their Ph.D. in the field of Dynamics and Control of dynamical systems are welcome to join the group through NPDF and Institutional Postdoctoral Fellowship.