Multi Fidelity Uncertainty Propagation to Track Maneuvering Spacecraft
Abstract
Maneuvering spacecraft create difficulties in space object tracking and characterization, which is criticalto identifying contentious behavior and risks. To maintain safety of operations and domain awareness, we must understand how to infer maneuver capabilities for many targets via a minimal set of data. For the case of low thrust propulsion systems, maneuvers prove difficult to detect when compared to their impulsive counterparts. Previous research focuses on trackers that maintain custody at the cost of estimating a maneuver (e.g., interacting multiple model filters) or assume perfect data association. The goal of this project is to research new methods to improve robustness and reduce computation time in multiple model approaches for tracking maneuvering spacecraft. Our hypothesis is a multi fidelity approach coupled with the computational efficiency of Differential Algebra (DA) will enable maneuver detection and execution in a variable structure multi target tracker. The joint application of multi fidelity uncertainty quantification and DA provides the enabling technology for this research. This project considers three objectives, with research and development jointly performed by The University of Texas at Austin (United States) and the University of Surrey (United Kingdom). In the first objective, we will develop a novel DA based approach to multi fidelity uncertainty propagation and maneuver estimation via optimal control theory. In the second objective, we will leverage the multi fidelity approach to jointly track and identify maneuvers in a multiple model filter for a single agile object. Finally, we will combine these methods into a single multi target tracker based on labeled multi Bernoulli distributions to jointly identify, estimate, and associate data for many targets with unknown propulsion systems and behavior. Upon successful completion of this project, we expect to have a unique and tractable capability to track and characterize maneuvering spacec
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910404
Entities
People
- Brandon A. Jones
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Texas at Austin