Distributed BSP Control for Low Earth Orbit Service Operations

We discuss a novel approach to manipulation and transport of satellites for Low Earth Orbit service operations and present our simulation results. Our approach is based on cooperative manipulation principles and leverages on a Reynolds boids’ collective coordinated movement. The implementation exploits Belief Space Planning (BSP) to enforce the Reynolds’ flock rules and the compliance of the satellite’s exterior to perform grasping and transport of satellites from a lower to an higher orbit.