Publications related to Spacecraft propulsion

VDM-based navigation for Delta-wing UAVs: Models, calibration, implementation

Autonomous navigation of small UAVs is typically based on the integration of inertial navigation systems (INS) together with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). However, GNSS signals can face various forms of interference affecting their continuous ...

EPFL2024

Advancing spacecraft demisability through a novel composite bolt joint system: a step toward sustainable and safe space environments

Véronique Michaud, Alexandre Achille Looten, Muriel Richard, Antonio Caiazzo

From the recent awareness of the booming number of space debris and their derived worldwide re-entry event threat originating from the use of high survivability components, complementary mitigation measures must be taken for future orbital elements. In thi ...

2023

Gaia Focused Product Release: Asteroid orbital solution: Properties and assessment

Stephan Morgenthaler, Shuangqing Liao

Context. We report the exploitation of a sample of Solar System observations based on data from the third Gaia Data Release (Gaia DR3) of nearly 157 000 asteroids. It extends the epoch astrometric solution over the time coverage planned for the Gaia DR4, w ...

Edp Sciences S A2023

Flexural-tensegrity snapping tails for bio-inspired propulsion in fluids

Pedro Miguel Nunes Pereira de Almeida Reis, Claudio Boni

Many aquatic animals propel themselves by flapping their tails. Leveraging a recently proposed snapping cantilever beam based on the concept of flexural tensegrity, we propose a bio-inspired propulsion device. The design comprises a segmental beam with hol ...

ELSEVIER2022

Design of an intake and a thruster for an atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion system

Francesco Romano, Thomas Binderup Jensen

Challenging space missions include those at very low altitudes, where the atmosphere is the source of aerodynamic drag on the spacecraft, that finally defines the mission's lifetime, unless a way to compensate for it is provided. This environment is named ...

2022

Design of a Hyperloop System MockUp

Mario Paolone, Denis Tudor, Malicia Leipold, Tony Govoni

The thorough development of the hyperloop system does require the availability of reduced-scale models. They can be used for the fast prototyping of various components, as well as for studying critical phenomena that takes place in this peculiar transporta ...

IEEE2022

Reconfigurable Drone System for Transportation of Parcels With Variable Mass and Size

Dario Floreano, Fabrizio Schiano, Przemyslaw Mariusz Kornatowski, Leonardo Cencetti

Cargo drones are designed to carry payloads with predefined shape, size, and/or mass. This lack of flexibility requires a fleet of diverse drones tailored to specific cargo dimensions. Here we propose a new reconfigurable drone based on a modular design th ...

2022

A 1.5D fluid-Monte Carlo model of a hydrogen helicon plasma

Ivo Furno, Alan Howling, Philippe Frédérique Bruno Guittienne, Rémy Jacquier, Riccardo Agnello

Helicon plasma sources operating with hydrogen or deuterium might be attractive for fusion applications due to their higher power efficiency compared to inductive radiofrequency plasma sources. In recent years, the resonant antenna ion device (RAID) has be ...

2022

On the Capability of Wall-Modeled Large Eddy Simulations to Predict Particle Dispersion in Complex Turbulent Flows

Mohamed Aly Hashem Mohamed Sayed

Predicting particle transport in turbulent flows has a plethora of applications, some of which are: the transport of atmospheric aerosols, the deposition of blood cells in the arteries of human bodies and the atomization of fuel droplets in combustion cham ...

EPFL2022

The high-power helicon program at DIII-D: gearing up for first experiments

Alessandro Marinoni

Helicon current drive (CD), also called fast wave CD in the lower hybrid range of frequencies, has long been regarded as a promising CD tool for reactor grade plasmas. A newly installed MW-level system at DIII-D will be the first test of this technology in ...

IOP Publishing Ltd2021

Operational-Driven Optimal-Design of a Hyperloop System

Mario Paolone, Denis Tudor

We present an operational-driven optimal-design framework of a Hyperloop system. The novelty of the proposed framework is in the problem formulation that links the operation of a network of Hyperloop capsules, the model of the Hyperloop infrastructure, and ...

Elsevier BV2021

Wireless Electrohydrodynamic Actuators for Propulsion and Positioning of Miniaturized Floating Robots

Vito Cacucciolo, Yu Kuwajima

Autonomous soft robots require compact actuators generating large strokes and high forces. Electro-fluidic actuators are especially promising, they combine the advantages of electroactive polymers (low-power consumption, fast response, and electrical power ...

WILEY2021

An analysis of the impacts of green mobility strategies and technologies on different European energy system

François Maréchal, Jonas Schnidrig, Tuong-Van Nguyen

A successful decarbonization of the European Union, coupled with a high integration of renewable energy and ambitious targets for energy efficiency, can only be reached with a significant contribution from transport. This sector currently represents a quar ...

2021

A modelling framework for assessing the impact of green mobility technologies on energy systems

François Maréchal, Jonas Schnidrig, Tuong-Van Nguyen, Xiang Li

A successful decarbonisation of the European Union, coupled with a high integration of renewable energy and ambitious targets for energy efficiency, can only be reached with a significant contribution from the transporta- tion sector. It currently represen ...

2021

Appendix - A modelling framework for assessing the impact of green mobility technologies on energy systems

François Maréchal, Jonas Schnidrig, Tuong-Van Nguyen, Xiang Li

A successful decarbonisation of the European Union, coupled with a high integration of renewable energy and ambitious targets for energy efficiency, can only be reached with a significant contribution from the transportation sector. It currently represents ...

2021

Helicon wave plasma generated by a resonant birdcage antenna: magnetic field measurements and analysis in the RAID linear device

Ivo Furno, Alan Howling, Philippe Frédérique Bruno Guittienne, Rémy Jacquier, Riccardo Agnello

This paper describes a helicon-wave-sustained plasma generated by a novel birdcage antenna with cosine azimuthal current distribution. The resonant birdcage source maintains a stable intense plasma column from low (300 W) to high (10 kW) steady-state RF po ...

2021

Propulsion and energetics of a minimal magnetic microswimmer

Ignacio Pagonabarraga Mora

In this manuscript we describe the realization of a minimal hybrid microswimmer, composed of a ferromagnetic nanorod and a paramagnetic microsphere. The unbounded pair is propelled in water upon application of a swinging magnetic field that induces a perio ...

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY2020

Influence of Battery Models on the Optimal Design of the Propulsion System of a Hyperloop Capsule

Mario Paolone, Denis Tudor

The paper assesses the influence of equivalent circuit battery models on the optimal design of the propulsion system of an energy-autonomous Hyperloop capsule. By knowing a pre-determined payload to be transported along pre-determined trajectories, the pro ...

IEEE2020

Design and development of the efficient anguilliform swimming robot- MAR

Auke Ijspeert, Peter Eckert, Anouk Looijestijn

Propulsion of swimming robots at the surface and underwater is largely dominated by rotary propellers due to high thrust, but at the cost of low efficiency. Due to their inherently high speed turning motion, sharp propeller blades and generated noise, they ...

2020

Buckling instabilities and spatio-temporal dynamics of active elastic filaments

Tobias Schneider

Biological filaments driven by molecular motors tend to experience tangential propulsive forces also known as active follower forces. When such a filament encounters an obstacle, it deforms, which reorients its follower forces and alters its entire motion. ...

ROYAL SOC2020