Autonomous Aerospace Technologies in Spacesyslab – A Robotic-Based Rendezvous and Docking System

Autonomous aerospace technology is an innovation activity currently included in NATO’s operation areas having a profound impact on security and defense. SpaceSysLab facility is the new Laboratory from Romania, able to test control algorithms for autonomous missions and to develop hardware (coupling mechanisms, navigation sensors and actuators). This robot-based test lab is used to test, verify and validate the R&D systems. The degree of novelty is expressed by the fact that the SpaceSysLab designed as a SIL+HIL (Software-in-the-Loop+Hard-inthe-Loop) simulator is a combination of hardware and software simulator that can test and verify space robots, autonomous VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) of UAVs on mobile platforms in complex coupling phases. This technology allows hardware/software robotic broadband systems to be controlled by simulating every phase. SpaceSysLab consists of a virtual platform (VP) based on GNC system (guidance, navigation, and control) and an experimental platform (EP) based on a robotic system. This system permits to simulate the meeting and coupling maneuvers of the robots. VP+EP test system is a hybrid simulator, designed to simulate simultaneously the relative dynamics of two motion bodies on relatively short distances in meeting/coupling maneuvers (rendezvous, proximity and docking – RP&D, VTOL).