Space Thesis Project: Multi-Sensor Fusion for Robust Attitude Determination

Background

Attitude determination is of crucial importance for safe and reliable satellite operations. Errors in attitude determination can cause severe impact on downlink capacity due to misalignment between the uplink and downlink antennae, stable orbit maintenance, correct pointing of the solar panels for optimum power generation and sensor pointing.

To achieve this sensor fusion is required of all available sensors for robust and accurate attitude determination. Events with temporary sensor failures need to identified and mitigated such that the impact on operations is kept to a minimum.

Assignment

Design, test and verify a sensor fusion model capable of handling data from sensors such as;

• Star Tracker

• Magnetometer

• Sun Sensor

• Gyroscope

• Actuators

With an emphasis on robust attitude determination in the event of sensor failure or blinding.

Duration

6 to 9 month, depending on the study program. The starting date is flexible.

Profile

• Passionate about Space and Research & Development

• Final year of university Masters student in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems and Control or similar.

• Proficient in programming Python

• Assertive and self-motivated, able to be part of the project team and also proceed individually

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work with data from an in-orbit satellite

• A challenging graduation project in a high-tech result orientated work environment

• Weekly supervision and availability of the technical staff for support

• An internship allowance

• Working in a R&D project as part of the team

• Internship results to be used in the current and future projects

About NLR

Royal NLR has been the ambitious research organisation with the will to keep innovating for over 100 years. With that drive, we make the world of transportation safer, more sustainable, more efficient and more effective. We are on the threshold of breakthrough innovations. Plans and ideas start to move when these are fed with the right energy. Over 900 driven professionals work on research and innovation. From aircraft engineers to psychologists and from mathematicians to application experts.

Our colleagues are happy to tell you what it’s like to work at NLR.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Pien Moller via mail: pien.moller@nlr.nl or phone: 0611443915.

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Note that a pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.