Note: This post is adapted from my conference paper, which was presented at the 2022 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialists Conference. You can read the full paper here. Abstract Low-thrust propulsion is an enabling factor for the next generation of deep space missions. Unfortunately, their limited thrust capabilities render long-duration thrusting arcs necessary. Any interruption to the thrust…
Note: This post is adapted from a journal paper I was a co-author on (my other Co-Authors, particularly Jared Sikes and James Pezent, deserve far more credit than I for both the GTOC solution and the paper), which was accepted to Acta Astronautica in Summer 2022. You can read the full paper here, or see my…
In an old post we went over the finite difference method, where we approximated the derivative of a function by sampling the function at multiple specific points, and then, as the name implies, taking the difference between these points. Finite differencing is both easy to understand and good enough for a lot of problems leading to…
Note: This post is adapted from my conference paper, which was presented at the 11th International ESA Conference on Guidance, Navigation & Control Systems. You can read the full paper here. Abstract – Measuring Resilience Of Autonomous Controllers To Missed Thrust Events On A Mars To Earth Trajectory As spacecraft adopt low-thrust electric propulsion to reduce propellant mass,…
Note: This post is adapted from my journal paper, which was accepted to Aerospace Science and Technology in Spring 2021. You can read the full paper here Abstract – Designing Trajectories Resilient to Missed Thrust Events Using Expected Thrust Fraction With the adoption of efficient low-thrust propulsion methods, the probability of a missed thrust event…
Note: This post is adapted from my conference paper, which was presented at the Astrodynamics Specialists Conference in Summer 2020. You can read the full paper here. Abstract – Designing Trajectories Resilient to Missed Thrust Events Using Expected Thrust Fraction With the adoption of efficient low-thrust propulsion methods, the probability of a missed thrust event occurring has…
Note: This post is adapted from my conference paper, that I presented at the Astrodynamics Specialists Conference in Summer 2020. You can read the full paper here. Abstract – Using Reinforcement Learning to Design Missed Thrust Resilient Trajectories From ion thrusters to solar sails, spacecraft continue to adopt new and more efficient forms of propulsion. As…
Note: This post is adapted from my journal paper, which was accepted to Acta Astronautica in Spring 2020. You can read the full paper here Abstract – Neural Network Optimal Control in Astrodynamics While high-efficiency propulsion techniques are enabling new mission concepts in deep space exploration, their limited thrust capabilities necessitate long thrusting arcs and…
Note: This post is adapted from a lecture I gave to my undergrads. It’s focused on presenting the basics of stability for dynamical systems. The big question this lecture is intended to answer is what will our system do if we perturb it a small amount? This is not a rigorous treatment and in some…
Note: This post is adapted from a lecture I gave to my undergrads. It’s focused on conveying the method and main idea behind the different formulations. This is not a rigorous treatment and in some locations, I have traded being technically correct for being clear. If you want a riggorous treatment of the material I…
