![]() It didn't take long before the team doubled in size. ![]() At the time, we had an algorithm and simulation environment developed in MATLAB and C++. Nishant Mehta joined us and immediately extended our optical rendering and camera emulation capability, as we needed something that could simulate noise of the detector and optics, render stars, and give us the ability to change parameters such as integration time and required resolution. But as we started expanding the simulation, we realized we needed additional experts on the team. Together, we developed the generic SMART Nav capability on an APL internal research and development effort. I call Mark an anomaly because he's not just a GNC guy, he is equally strong in software engineering in order to develop a robust algorithm that can fly in space, I believe that strong software engineering is a requirement. The team started out with three engineers: one that specialized in image processing (me), another in mission design (Justin Atchison), and the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) "anomaly" (Mark Jensenius). However, I couldn't do all of this on my own. To develop an algorithm that is robust to these unknowns, we needed a modeling and simulation environment that enabled us to emulate these elements as well as spacecraft behavior and optical payload behavior. But we are unsure of the exact shape of either of the asteroids their albedo, or light reflecting off the asteroids or whether there could be a potential third body in the system. Radar and imaging data show that the Didymos system is a tidally locked binary, meaning that the same side of Didymos-B always faces Didymos-A, like the same side of our Moon always faces us. What makes this challenge even more fun is that we don't yet have a clear picture of what the Didymos system looks like. Like my teenage son who "optimizes" his use of energy, SMART Nav has to figure out when it is worthwhile to fire the thrusters and when it is best to coast, based on how much fuel is left and how far the Didymos system is from the spacecraft. It then has to decide which target is Didymos-A and which one is Didymos-B. ![]() For DART, the algorithm uses the imagery taken by the on-board camera and identifies the targets in the image that could be the Didymos system. It stands for Small-body Maneuvering Autonomous Real-Time Navigation as it is intended to maneuver around or toward a small body (like an asteroid or comet). SMART Nav is the autonomous algorithm on DART that makes the decisions related to navigating the spacecraft toward Didymos-B. When I realized he was serious, the obvious next question was, "How many words?" As an engineer, the idea of pausing to write a post is terrifying – but it's also an amazing opportunity to share this critical part of this important mission. When DART Investigation Co-Lead Andy Rivkin asked me to write a blog post about SMART Nav, I thought he was float-ing an April Fool's day prank … in December.
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