In this paper, a method for autonomous navigation about small bodies using a configurable imaging Flash LiDAR is presented. The method is assessed through software simulation. A LiDAR sensor model based on current prototype developments in Europe is considered for data generation. The unit can be configured to operate in three distinctive modes: single-beam altimeter, multi-beam ranger and imaging LiDAR. The switching between operational modes may be defined according to the mission altitude profile. The target of the ESA/NASA AIDA mission - the binary near-Earth asteroid 65803 Didymos (1996 GT) - was selected as central body for our test scenario. The positioning performance of a pure LiDAR-based navigation concept is assessed for a spacecraft flying in proximity of the Didymos system. Sensor data are simulated from a reference trajectory about the binary system. An Extended Kalman filter is used to estimate spacecraft position and velocity relative to the primary asteroid body-centred inertial frame. The filter makes use of a simplified dynamic model for state propagation. The model accounts for non-spheric gravitational terms of the primary asteroid, third-body perturbations of the secondary asteroid (Didymoon) and solar radiation pressure. The navigation performance of such a system is evaluated for surface-relative navigation.    «

In this paper, a method for autonomous navigation about small bodies using a configurable imaging Flash LiDAR is presented. The method is assessed through software simulation. A LiDAR sensor model based on current prototype developments in Europe is considered for data generation. The unit can be configured to operate in three distinctive modes: single-beam altimeter, multi-beam ranger and imaging LiDAR. The switching between operational modes may be defined according to the mission altitude pro...    »