Figure: Ground vehicle as an example of a target

Dynamics and Control Systems Laboratory

At the Dynamics and Control Systems Laboratory (DCSL), we pursue advanced, mathematically rigorous research in aerospace dynamics, estimation, and control. Our work prioritizes fundamental theoretical innovation over empirical trial-and-error, with core strengths in nonlinear dynamics, space applications, and geometric mechanics.

DCSL addresses problems where conventional methods fail, and where advancing the field requires deep insight into the underlying dynamics and system structures. Our research focuses on spacecraft autonomy, nonlinear orbital mechanics, and multiagent systems, with an emphasis on estimation and control techniques developed on the nonlinear manifolds SE(3) and TSE(3). DCSL is dedicated to advancing the technical foundations that will drive the next generation of autonomous space systems and high-performance aerospace platforms.

While DCSL’s primary emphasis is on theoretical development, select experimental platforms are maintained to support validation and demonstration of advanced estimation and control concepts. An overview of these experimental resources is provided below. For a complete description of theoretical developments, please refer to our publications.

Precision air bearing surface (installed by Precision Epoxy with poured epoxy surface plate for ground vehicles with adjustable attitude and robotic arms. This testbed uses custom 80/20 Aluminum framework for assembly of the desired platform layout.

Location: MicaPlex, room MP105

This testbed aims to validate theoretical developments of dynamics and control algorithms for constrained rigid-body vehicle with robotic and/or flexible arms addressing robustness and reconfigurability to suit different test scenarios.

Figure: RMAS constrained motion with uncertainty

Objective: The drone cage provides a safe setting for testing of the algorithms of this research using autonomous vehicles (aerial vehicles and ground vehicles) that are equipped with on-board wireless data acquisition, USB simulator dongles, advanced sensors, and local positioning systems. Candidate scenarios involving several stationary and mobile targets (ground robots or aerial vehicles) are considered and rigid-body multiagent system (RMAS) relative motion are studied considering real-world situations such as measurement noise. User-defined inequality constraint bounds will be used to determine the configuration and velocity deviations of the vehicle from an equality constraint around the target.

Robotic Vehicle Testbed

Cooperative Aerial and Ground Vehicles Experimental (CAGE) Testbed
CAGE is a demountable, portable experimental environment made out of 204 one-meter PVC pipes, 102 one-square-meter nets, and several hooks (assembled by DCSL) is used for indoor and outdoor testing. The maximum size of this cage is 4mx2mx2m but it can also be dismantled and assembled into smaller spaces (as small as a 1m x1mx1m cubic space).

Location: Astrodynamics Research Hub, S122.

Figure: Schematics of moveable testbed table