2D Close-Range Navigation Sensor for Miniature Cooperative Spacecraft

This paper presents the 2D close-range navigation sensor for cooperative spacecraft developed in the framework of the experiment ARCADE. The sensor exploits an infrared LED transmitter mounted on the target, and two photodiode receivers mounted on the chaser. Laboratory tests were performed to assess the sensor performance and range of application. The accuracies of estimates were, on average, 1.9 mm for distance and 1.0 deg for yaw angle, in ranges of [0.20, 0.42] m and [-40, 40] deg, respectively.