Related papers: A Potential Aid in the Target Selection for the Co…
Assume that a target is known to be present at an unknown point among a finite set of locations in the plane. We search for it using a mobile robot that has imperfect sensing capabilities. It takes time for the robot to move between…
A Model Predictive Controller for Tracking is introduced for rendezvous with non-cooperative tumbling targets in active debris removal applications. The target's three-dimensional non-periodic rotational dynamics as well as other state and…
The paper deals with the design of an improved model predictive control scheme for achieving station-keeping in a quasi Halo orbit around the $L_2$ point in the Earth-Moon system. The improvement is obtained thanks to a multi-rate…
We present a review of the literature on the subject of a possible collision between the Earthand a meteorite or comet. We emphasize the global effects when sufficient energy is involved.We propose several types of human actions adapted to…
High power Earth and orbital-based directed energy (DE) systems pose a potential hazard to Earth orbiting spacecraft. The use of very high power, large aperture DE systems to propel spacecraft is being pursued as the only known, feasible…
Current navigation systems conflate time-to-drive with the true time-to-arrive by ignoring parking search duration and the final walking leg. Such underestimation can significantly affect user experience, mode choice, congestion, and…
Motion planning is a critical module in autonomous driving, with the primary challenge of uncertainty caused by interactions with other participants. As most previous methods treat prediction and planning as separate tasks, it is difficult…
We address key challenges in long-horizon embodied exploration and navigation by proposing a new object transport task and a novel modular framework for temporally extended navigation. Our first contribution is the design of a novel…
As In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems (IVIS) grow in complexity, selecting external points of interest (POIs) using traditional touchscreens significantly increases driver cognitive load. Recent evidence indicates that this visual-motor…
The forecast of the time of arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) to Earth is of critical importance for our high-technology society and for any future manned exploration of the Solar System. As critical as the forecast accuracy is the…
In [1,2] a new class of intelligent controllers that can semantically embed an agent in a spatial context constraining its behavior in a goal-oriented manner was suggested. A controller of such a class can guide an agent in a stationary…
Despite large advances in recent years, real-time capable motion planning for autonomous road vehicles remains a huge challenge. In this work, we present a decision module that is based on set-based reachability analysis: First, we identify…
Direct detection and characterization of Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars is a core task for evaluating the prevalence of habitability and life in the Universe. Here, we discuss a promising option for achieving this goal, which is…
The design of interplanetary trajectories often involves a preliminary search for options later refined/assembled into one final trajectory. It is this broad search that, often being intractable, inspires the international event called…
This paper presents a landing controller for a fixed-wing aircraft during the landing phase, ensuring the aircraft reaches the touchdown point smoothly. The landing problem is converted to a finite-time linear quadratic tracking (LQT)…
The Large Observatory For x-ray Timing (LOFT) was studied within ESA M3 Cosmic Vision framework and participated in the final down-selection for a launch slot in 2022-2024. Thanks to the unprecedented combination of effective area and…
The ability to anticipate others' goals and intentions is at the basis of human-human social interaction. Such ability, largely based on non-verbal communication, is also a key to having natural and pleasant interactions with artificial…
EarthFinder is a Probe Mission concept selected for study by NASA for input to the 2020 astronomy decadal survey. This study is currently active and a final white paper report is due to NASA at the end of calendar 2018. We are tasked with…
Landing robotic spacecrafts and humans on Mars has become one of the inevitable technological necessities for humans. Effectuating perfect Mars expedition requires landing of enormous cargoes, crewed modules, ascent vehicles, and scientific…
This paper presents a cooperative guidance strategy for the simultaneous interception of a constant-velocity, non-maneuvering target, addressing the realistic scenario where only a subset of interceptors are equipped with onboard seekers.…