Ricados 2.0
More and more aspects of our daily lives are dependent on satellite-based communication. From navigation in our cars, over the latest weather data, to live reporting from crisis areas and their transmission via TV satellites into our living rooms. Near-earth satellites serve as a central element for relaying, but also for receiving new information, such as earth observation and the aquisition of critical information in the fight against climate change.
Particularly in recent years, the number of satellites in low-Earth orbit has grown rapidly. Besides the above-mentioned advantages in our everyday lives, this also poses a major problem: the more satellites there are in orbit, the greater the likelihood of collisions. The danger of a chain reaction, where collisions of space debris trigger several further collisions, increases.
In RICADOS 2.0, the Institute of Software Technology is collaborating with the Institutes of Space Operations and Astronaut Training, Robotics and Mechatronics, System Dynamics and Control, and the Institute of Optical Sensor Systems. The goal of the collaborative project is to repair damage to satellites directly in orbit in order to increase satellite lifetime and thus reduce space debris.
The in-orbit repairs are to be performed by a robotic spacecraft. To do this, the spacecraft must be able to dock with a damaged satellite that may be in uncontrolled motion, identify the problem, and then repair it using robotic arms.
The Institute of Software Technology is working on two different aspects of visualization in RICADOS 2.0: Firstly, software is being developed that simulates the camera images of the rendezvous GNC and the robotic system in a virtual approach with physically correct lighting. Thus, physically plausible image data sets can be generated via a user interface, which can subsequently be used for training the image-based attitude estimation between the robot and the uncontrolled moving satellite.
Secondly, the Institute of Software Technology is working on the integration of VR-based teleoperation approaches into the repair process. In virtual reality, the teleoperator of the robotic systems can gain a better overview of the current situation and make informed decisions through three-dimensional visualization and real-time attitude information of the systems.
Project runtime:
- 01/2023 - 12/2025
Scientific participants:
Publications on this project: