Target Relative Navigation Results from Hardware-in-the-Loop Tests Using the SINPLEX Navigation System

Abstract

The goal of the SINPLEX project is to develop an innovative solution to significantly reduce the mass of the navigation subsystem for exploration missions which include landing and/or rendezvous and capture phases. The system mass is reduced while still maintaining good navigation performance as compared to a conventional modular system. This is done by functionally integrating the navigation sensors, using micro- and nanotechnology to miniaturize electronics and fusing the sensor data within a navigation filter to improve navigation performance. A breadboard system was build including a navigation computer, IMU, laser altimeter/range finder, star tracker and navigation camera and has space for the redundant counterparts. Testing using the TRON hardware-in-the-loop testbench is ongoing. This paper covers some key design properties of the built system and presents some initial performance results of the hardware-in-the-loop tests.