Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Authors' Class Standing
Jonathon Nadeau, Junior Ankit Rukhaiyar, Junior Francisco Pastrana, Senior Patrick Serafin, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Jonathon Nadeau
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Sergey Drakunov
Abstract
The Engineering Physics Propulsion Laboratory (EPPL) student team lead by Dr. Sergey Drakunov, has been working on the development of an Autonomous Reconfigurable Craft called the ARC. This spacecraft prototype features state of the art controllers and a reconfigurable, modular, and innovative design that allows for any component to be swapped out and accommodate many different specific mission requirements. Possible applications for the ARC include: interplanetary exploration, orbital missions, asteroid mining, deep space exploration, orbital construction, and as an educational remote platform. Current progress of the ARC includes the construction and testing of an attitude control platform in the EPPL high pressure test chamber. Other systems being develop include: main propulsion, vision interpretation, solar panel deployable system, landing gear system, robotic arms for sample manipulation, and a Nano-satellite deployment system.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Ignite Grant
ERAU ARC – Autonomous Reconfigurable Craft (Spacecraft Prototype)
The Engineering Physics Propulsion Laboratory (EPPL) student team lead by Dr. Sergey Drakunov, has been working on the development of an Autonomous Reconfigurable Craft called the ARC. This spacecraft prototype features state of the art controllers and a reconfigurable, modular, and innovative design that allows for any component to be swapped out and accommodate many different specific mission requirements. Possible applications for the ARC include: interplanetary exploration, orbital missions, asteroid mining, deep space exploration, orbital construction, and as an educational remote platform. Current progress of the ARC includes the construction and testing of an attitude control platform in the EPPL high pressure test chamber. Other systems being develop include: main propulsion, vision interpretation, solar panel deployable system, landing gear system, robotic arms for sample manipulation, and a Nano-satellite deployment system.