End-to-End Development and Validation of GNC Algorithms: Towards an Iterative and Automated Process

Abstract

The development of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms traditionally follows a sequential process, where critical issues often emerge late and require costly rework. To address this, a workflow has been established that begins with rapid prototyping in MATLAB/Simulink, progresses through automated Model-in-the-Loop (MiL) testing, C++ code generation, Software- and Embedded-in-the-Target validation, and culminates in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) testing on real-time platforms. This process is driven by reliability, agility, and automation, leveraging a GitLab-based CI/CD pipeline to ensure consistent, traceable, and repeatable testing across the toolchain. Although challenges remain due to system complexity, computational demands, and safety-critical requirements, advances in tools now enable integrated automation, supporting agile development, standardization, and reusability enablers for reducing risk, cost, and delays in increasingly fast-paced and reusable space missions.