# Experimental Evaluation of Pose Initialization Methods for Relative Navigation Between Non-Cooperative Satellites

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.10244 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.10244/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 2 of its 18 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 21 Jun 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Towards Robust Learning-Based Pose Estimation of Noncooperative Spacecraft](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.00392/) (2019)
- [Robotic Testbed for Rendezvous and Optical Navigation: Multi-Source Calibration and Machine Learning Use Cases](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.05529/) (2021)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In this work, we have analyzed the problem of relative pose initialization between two satellites: a chaser and a non-cooperating target. The analysis has been targeted to two close-range methods based on a monocular camera system: the Sharma-Ventura-D'Amico (SVD) method and the silhouette matching method. Both methods are based on a priori knowledge of the target geometry, but neither fiducial markers nor a priori range measurements or state information are needed. The tests were carried out using a 2U CubeSat mock-up as target attached to a motorized rotary stage to simulate its relative motion with respect to the chaser camera. A motion capture system was used as a reference instrument that provides the fiducial relative motion between the two mock-ups and allows to evaluate the performances of the initialization algorithms analyzed.