Contact Dr Leonard Felicetti
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 750111 x5163
- Email: Leonard.Felicetti@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
- ResearchGate
Areas of expertise
- Space Systems
Background
Dr. Leonard Felicetti is a Lecturer in Space Engineering in Cranfield University. His main areas of interest/expertise are: Spacecraft Orbital and Attitude Control Systems (AOCS); Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC); Spacecraft Systems and Subsystems; Spacecraft Design; Space Robotics; Distributed Space Systems
He received his M.Sc. summa cum laude from Sapienza – University of Rome (Italy) in 2008 with a dissertation on the Attitude Dynamics and Control of a Cubesat implementing a Drag-Balance Instrument for measuring the Atmospheric Drag in Low Earth Orbit. In 2013, he received his Ph.D. on the “Dynamics, Guidance and Control of Multiple Platform Space Systems” and later, he was awarded a two-years post-doc grant at the Guidance and Navigation Lab of Sapienza - University of Rome (Italy) for a study contract on the Active Debris Removal by using Space Robotic Manipulators.
In 2015, he was an Honorary Research Associate at University of Glasgow (UK) for a research on the Attitude and Orbit Control Strategies for Variable-Geometry Solar Sailing.
Leonard was an Associate Senior Lecturer in On-board Space System in Luleå University of Technology (Sweden) from 2015 to 2018, leading the research activities of the group in “Mission Design for Space Debris Detection and Surveillance by using Formations of Autonomous Satellites”. He was also the teacher of the courses “Spacecraft Subsystems”, “Spacecraft Design” and “Spacecraft Environment Interactions” of the Master Degree programs on Space Science and Technology and Spacecraft Design of Luleå University of Technology.
Leonard joined Cranfield University (UK) in December 2018, having active roles on both teaching and research activities in the fields of guidance, navigation and control of space systems, spacecraft orbital and attitude control systems, space robotics and space system design. Leonard is also the organizer of the “Mission Design for Spacecraft Formations” session at IEEE Aerospace Conference, reviewer of numerous academic journals and AIAA member.
Current activities
Leonard’s main research interests are in
spacecraft orbital and attitude control systems, guidance, navigation and
control of space system, space robotics and multibody dynamics. He is also active in research topics such as space debris surveillance, space traffic management and active debris removal.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Pineau D & Felicetti L (2023) Design of an optical system for a Multi-CubeSats debris surveillance mission, Acta Astronautica, Available online 21 April 2023.
- Bellome A, Sánchez JP, Felicetti L & Kemble S (2023) Multiobjective design of gravity-assist trajectories via graph transcription and dynamic programming, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Available online 02 April 2023.
- Machuca P, Ozaki N, Sanchez JP & Felicetti L (2022) Dust impact and attitude analysis for JAXA’s probe on the Comet Interceptor mission, Advances in Space Research, 70 (5) 1189-1208.
- Ramon JL, Calvo R, Trujillo A, Pomares J & Felicetti (2022) Trajectory optimization and control of a free-floating two arms humanoid robot, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 45 (9) 1661-1675.
- Barles A, Bilkhu S, Boulnois A, Cuesta Arija FJ, Duarri Albacete G, Easdown W, Estalella Silvela A, Gallego Fernandez R, Kent B, Martinez Mariscal J, Martinez Mata A, Pradeep S, Sinclair G, Stephens-Simonazzi B, Yan W & Felicetti L (2022) Mission ORCA: orbit refinement for collision avoidance, Advances in Astronautics Science and Technology, 5 (2) 149-165.
- Ramón JL, Pomares J & Felicetti L (2022) Direct visual servoing and interaction control for a two-arms on-orbit servicing spacecraft, Acta Astronautica, 192 (March) 368-378.
- De Iuliis A, Ciampa F, Felicetti L & Ceriotti M (2021) Sailing with solar and planetary radiation pressure, Advances in Space Research, 67 (9) 2795-2811.
- Barles A, Ceriotti M, Ciampa F & Felicetti L (2021) An optimal steering law for sailing with solar and planetary radiation pressure, Aerospace Science and Technology, 118 (November) Article No. 107051.
- Larsen AK, Chen Y, Bruschetta M, Carli R, Cenedese A, Varagnolo D & Felicetti L (2019) A computationally efficient model predictive control scheme for space debris rendezvous, IFAC-PapersOnLine, 52 (12) 103-110.
- Felicetti L & Emami M (2018) Image-based attitude maneuvers for space debris tracking, Aerospace Science and Technology, 76 (May) 58-71.
- Felicetti L & Emami M (2018) Vision-aided attitude control for space debris detection, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 41 (2) 566-574.
- Pomares J, Felicetti L, Pérez J & Emami M (2018) Concurrent image-based visual servoing with adaptive zooming for non-cooperative rendezvous maneuvers, Advances in Space Research, 61 (3) 862-878.
- Felicetti . & Emami M (2017) Attitude coordination of multiple spacecraft for space debris surveillance, Advances in Space Research, 59 (5) 1270-1288.
- Felicetti L & Emami M (2016) A multi-spacecraft formation approach to space debris surveillance, Acta Astronautica, 127 (October-November) 491-504.
- Felicetti L, Ceriotti M & Harkness P (2016) Attitude stability and altitude control of a variable-geometry earth-orbiting solar sail, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 39 (9) 2112-2126.
- Felicetti L, Gasbarri P, Pisculli A, Sabatini M & Palmerini GB (2016) Design of robotic manipulators for orbit removal of spent launchers’ stages, Acta Astronautica, 119 (February-March) 118-130.
- Felicetti L & Palmerini G (2016) Analytical and numerical investigations on spacecraft formation control by using electrostatic forces, Acta Astronautica, 123 (June-July) 455-469.
- Felicetti L & Palmerini GB (2015) Three spacecraft formation control by means of electrostatic forces, Aerospace Science and Technology, 48 (January) 261-271.
- Felicetti L, Piergentili F & Santoni F (2014) Thermosphere density and wind measurements in the equatorial region using a constellation of drag balance nanospacecraft, Advances in Space Research, 54 (3) 546-553.
- Pisculli A, Felicetti L, Gasbarri P, Palmerini GB & Sabatini M (2014) A reaction-null/Jacobian transpose control strategy with gravity gradient compensation for on-orbit space manipulators, Aerospace Science and Technology, 38 (October) 30-40.
- Santoni F & Felicetti L (2013) Attitude dynamics and control of drag-balance CubeSats, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 36 (6) 1834-1840.
- Felicetti L & Santoni F (2013) Drag balance Cubesat attitude motion effects on in-situ thermosphere density measurements, Advances in Space Research, 54 (3) 489-498.
- Felicetti L & Santoni F (2013) Nanosatellite swarm missions in low Earth orbit using laser propulsion, Aerospace Science and Technology, 27 (1) 179-187.
Conference Papers
- Felicetti L, Basuiau M, Belshi E, Diener N, Kutyla O, Laing C, Noyon L, Owen R, Patayane S, Penney J, Rapicault A, Rowling S, Shaikh S, Sherry F & Weber A (2023) Design of a debris removal & on-orbit maintenance mission for mega-constellations. In: 2023 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, 4-11 March 2023.
- Hobbs S, Felicetti L, Leslie C, Rowling S, Brydon G, Dhesi M, Harris T, Chermak L & Soori U (2023) Towards in-orbit hyperspectral imaging of space debris. In: 2nd Neo and Debris Detection Conference, Darmstadt, 24-26 January 2023.
- Youhanna V, Ignatyev D & Felicetti L (2022) Futuristic Martian aerobot design. In: UK-RAS22: The 5th UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems Conference, Aberystwyth, 26 August 2022.
- Pineau D & Felicetti L (2022) Optical system design for a multi-CubeSats debris surveillance mission. In: 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC-22), Paris, 18-22 September 2022.
- Ramón JL, Pomares J & Felicetti L (2022) A ROS/Gazebo-based framework for simulation and control of on-orbit robotic systems. In: 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC-22), Paris, 18-22 September 2022.
- Ramón JL, Calvo R, Trujillo A, Pomares J & Felicetti L (2022) Path generation and control of humanoid robots during extravehicular activities. In: 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC-22), Paris, 18-22 September 2022.
- Wu CX, Machuca P, Felicetti L & Sanchez JP (2022) Autonomous optical navigation for small spacecraft in cislunar space. In: 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC-22), Paris, 18-22 September 2022.
- Zaragoza Prous G & Felicetti L (2022) A shrinking horizon model predictive control for landing of reusable launch vehicles. In: 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC-22), Paris, 18-22 September 2022.
- Bellome A, Sanchez Cuartielles J-P, Rico Alvarez JI, Hadrien AFSA, Kemble S & Felicetti L (2021) An automatic process for sample return missions based on dynamic programming optimization. In: AIAA SciTech Forum 2022, San Diego and Virtual Event, 3-7 January 2022.
- Bellome A, Carrillo M, Sanchez JP, Del Ser J, Kemble S & Felicetti L (2021) Efficiency of tree-search like heuristics to solve complex mixed-integer programming problems applied to the design of optimal space trajectories. In: 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), 2021, Dubai, 25-29 October 2021.
- Ramon JL, Pomares J & Felicetti L (2021) On-orbit free-floating manipulation using a two-arm robotic system. In: ROBOVIS 2021: 2nd International Conference on Robotics, Computer Vision and Intelligent Systems, Online, 27-28 October 2021.
- Castro M, Felicetti L, Sadeghi S, Satpute S, Barabash V, Jeronimo de Oliveira E, Westerberg LF & Laufer R (2021) Multi-Cubesat mission for auroral acceleration region studies. In: 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), 2021, Dubai, 25-29 October 2021.
- Bellome A, Sanchez J-P, Kemble S & Felicetti L (2021) A multi-fidelity optimization process for complex multiple gravity assist trajectory design. In: 8th International Conference on Astrodynamics Tools and Techniques, Virtual Event, 23-25 June 2021.
- Kingston J, Felicetti L & Hobbs S (2021) What might sustainability of the GEO region look like?. In: Space, Satellites + Sustainability (S3), Glasgow, 28 September - 1 October 2021.
- Di Fraia MZ, Feetham L, Felicetti L, Sanchez J-P & Chermak L (2021) Perception fields: analysing distributions of optical features as a proximity navigation tool for autonomous probes around asteroids. In: 2021 IEEE 8th International Workshop on Metrology for AeroSpace (MetroAeroSpace), Naples (Virtual Event), 23-25 June 2021.
- Rappasse C, Merlinge N, Agez B & Felicetti L (2021) Multi-disciplinary design optimization for relative navigation in non-cooperative rendezvous. In: IEEE Aerospace Conference (AeroConf 2021), Big Sky, MT, 6-20 March 2021.
- Di Fraia MZ, Chermak L, Cuartielles J-P, Felicetti L & Scannapieco AF (2020) NAV-Landmarks: deployable 3D infrastructures to enable CubeSats navigation near asteroids. In: 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, 7-14 March 2020.
- Barles A, Bilkhu S, Boulnois A, Cuesta Arija FJ, Duarri Albacete G, Easdown W, Estalella Silvela A, Gallego Fernández R, Kent B, Martínez Mariscal J, Martinez Mata A, Pradeep S, Sinclair G, Stephens-Simonazzi B, Yan W & Felicetti L (2020) Mission ORCA: orbit refinement for collision avoidance. In: 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC-20): The Cyberspace Edition, Online, 12-14 October 2020.
- Easdown W & Felicetti L (2020) A mission architecture and systems level design of navigation, robotics and grappling hardware for an on-orbit servicing spacecraft. In: UKSEDS Student Space Symposium 2020, Online, 10 October 2020.
- Machuca P, Ozaki N, Sanchez Cuartielles JP, Felicetti L & Funase R (2020) System requirements analysis for JAXA's contribution to Comet Interceptor mission: autonomous navigation, guidance and attitude control for a hyperbolic comet fly-by. In: 71st International Astronautical Congress - the Cyberspace Edition, Online, 12-14 October 2020.
- Bellome A, Sanchez Cuartielles J-P, Felicetti L & Kemble S (2020) Modified tisserand map exploration for preliminary multiple gravity assist trajectory design. In: 71st International Astronautical Congress - the Cyberspace Edition, Online, 12-14 October 2020.
- Felicetti L & Pomares J (2020) Image-based visual servoing control for spacecraft formation flying. In: 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, 7-14 March 2020.
- De Iuliis A, Ciampa F, Felicetti L & Ceriotti M (2019) Sailing with solar and planetary radiation pressure. In: ISSS 2019: 5th International Symposium on Solar Sailing, Aachen, 30 July - 2 August 2019.
- Pomares J, Felicetti L, Perez J & Emami M (2018) Spacecraft visual servoing with adaptive zooming for non-cooperative rendezvous. In: 2018 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, 3-10 March 2018.
- Felicetti L & Emami M (2017) Spacecraft formation for debris surveillance. In: 2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, 4-11 March 2017.
- Felicetti L & Palmerini GB (2014) Evaluation of control strategies for spacecraft electrostatic formation keeping. In: 2014 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, 1-8 March 2014.
- Felicetti L, Sabatini M, Pisculli P & Palmerini GB (2014) Adaptive thrust vector control during on-orbit servicing. In: AIAA SPACE 2014 Conference and Exposition, AIAA SPACE Forum, San Diego, 4-7 August 2014.
- Pagnozzi D, Pisculli A, Felicetti L & Sabatini M (2014) 3D minimum reaction control for space manipulators. In: 65th International Astronautical Congress (IAC-14): Our World Needs Space, 2014, Toronto, 29 September - 3 October 2014.
- Felicetti L & Palmerini GB (2013) A comparison among classical and SDRE techniques in formation flying orbital control. In: 2013 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, 2-9 March 2013.
- Pisculli A, Felicetti L, Gasbarri P, Palmerini GB & Sabatini M (2013) Deployment analysis and control strategies of flexible space manipulators. In: 2013 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Beijing, 23-27 September 2013.
- Santoni F & Felicetti L (2013) Magnetic attitude control of a two body system in drag balance instrument implementation. In: 2013 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Beijing, 23-27 September 2013.
- Felicetti L & Palmerini GB (2012) Coordinated attitude control for multiple heterogeneous satellites missions. In: AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference 2012, Minneapolis, 13-16 August 2012.
- Palmerini GB, Sabatini M, Gasbarri P, Monti R & Felicetti L (2012) Design of debris removal missions performed by robotic graspers. In: 63rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC-12), 2012, Naples, 1-5 October 2012.
- Felicetti L & Palmerini GB (2012) Formation flying dynamics analysis by means of a virtual multibody approach. In: 1st International Academy of Astronautics Conference on Dynamics and Control of Space Systems, DyCoSS 2012, Porto, 19-21 March 2012.
- Felicetti L & Palmerini GB (2012) Modeling the formationkeeping control with multibody codes. In: 2012 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, 2-10 March 2012.