Impact of Central Node Orbital Configuration on Task Allocation in Heterogeneous Distributed Satellite Systems

Institut

Lehrstuhl für Spacecraft Systems (TUM-ED)

Typ

Semesterarbeit / Masterarbeit /

Inhalt

 

Beschreibung

The increasing scale of satellite constellations is driving the transition from centralized mission planning toward distributed satellite systems (DSS) with onboard autonomy. Decentralized task allocation improves robustness and scalability but introduces communication and operational challenges, especially when tasks generate large data volumes. In realistic Earth observation missions, task data size directly impacts inter-satellite communication, fulfilment of observation, and system performance. Introducing central nodes into DSS can improve coordination and robustness, but their effectiveness depends strongly on their orbital configuration. In heterogeneous systems, where satellites operate at different altitudes and inclinations, the placement of central nodes becomes a critical design parameter. This thesis investigates how the orbital characteristics (i.e, altitude, inclination, eccentricity) of central nodes influence task allocation performance, fulfilment of observation, complexity, robustness and number of communication windows and aims to identify optimal heterogeneous configurations for distributed satellite systems.

Voraussetzungen

Enrolled in a Master’s program of Aerospace Engineering or Computer Science (with strong interest in space systems).

Eligibility to conduct a Semester Thesis or Master’s Thesis at the Technical University of Munich.

Proficiency in Python.

Möglicher Beginn

sofort

Kontakt

Vincenzo Messina
Tel.: +49 89 289 55752
vincenzo.messinatum.de

Ausschreibung