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Kartik is an Experienced Researcher within the Stardust ITN at Dinamica Srl, in Milan, Italy. Kartik earned his BSc and MSc in Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in The Netherlands. He is finalizing his PhD under the guidance of Prof. I. de Pater from the same institute, supported by a Mosaic grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). His PhD research focused on the mysterious nature of the Mab/mu-ring system around Uranus. Kartik was a visiting scholar at the University of California-Berkeley, where he worked with Prof. de Pater on modeling the anomalous orbital motion of the moon Mab and simulating the dynamics of mu-ring dust. His research interests include: celestial mechanics, N-body dynamics, 3-body problem, Dynamical Systems Theory, numerical simulation, optimal control, optimization and planetary science. Away from research, he enjoys entrepreneurship, traveling, playing cricket, and spending time with family.


Project description

Recent studies have highlighted the need for active removal of debris. Similarly for Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), a number of studies have investigated mission scenarios to deflect orbits for hazard mitigation or exploitation. Research into feedback deflection action under uncertainties for an uncooperative space target is necessary to employ optimal control in active debris removal or asteroid deflection missions. Specifically, advancements are required in the quantification of uncertainty in asteroid/debris dynamic and physical models.

The goals of this projects are:

  • To apply modern techniques for local and global trajectory design and optimization to mission analysis for asteroid deflection and debris removal missions;  
  • To develop nonlinear optimal control methodologies for the efficient control of dynamical systems affected by uncertainties (in both the state and parameters);  
  • To simulate optimal asteroid deflection and debris removal mechanisms under uncertainty  
  • To identify and develop approaches for the active removal/deflection control of uncooperative targets  
  • To integrate active control under uncertainty in the removal/deflection technology models.  
  • To develop nonlinear optimal control methodologies for the efficient control of dynamical systems affected by uncertainties

Supervisor: Dr. Francesco Topputo



Kartik's Work

 
 
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