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Motion Capture Powers Space Satellite Research at Lúnasa
- rebeccaf73
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
In space, there is no room for error.
The lessons of the past resonate in our aerospace industry.
Refined and reimagined, the science that landed humanity on the moon in 1969 now empowers today’s engineers as we continue to look beyond the stars.
Companies like Lúnasa are at the forefront of innovation by adopting technologies like motion capture.
Lúnasa is an award-winning start-up that builds state-of-the-art satellites to provide affordable and quick in-orbit technology validation. Their platforms can host and rideshare advanced payloads for complex space missions.
As part of their continual testing and development, Lúnasa contacted Target3D.
The Brief
Lúnasa engaged Target3D following their relocation to a new facility, seeking a camera system for their new robotics laboratory. Having previously worked with Target3D, they sought expertise in procuring and engineering a motion capture solution that would be used to test a simulation for docking stations on space satellites.
The Challenge
The primary application for the proposed system involved tracking the movement and articulation of a robotic arm from various angles.
Lúnasa required a solution tailored to a testing space engineered to replicate satellite docking conditions, characterised by a constrained volume of 7 metres by 3 metres with a 2.5-metre ceiling height. Previously installed drapes blacked out the area, necessitating a system with a low profile, discreet enough to effectively blend into the drapes.
The Solution
Following a thorough consultation with Target3D’s Allan Rankin and Ricardo Sidoli, a 6 camera OptiTrack PrimeX 13 camera system was proposed. A site visit with Lead Engineer Paul Roberts and Installation Engineer Samuel Malady confirmed the system would be appropriate for the space and the client requirements.
With a set of auxiliary lights to assist in working in the blacked-out room, Paul, Samuel and Ashley Keeler pressed ahead with the installation.
An aluminium rail, powder-coated black, was mounted on the walls, selected for its lighter weight compared to steel.
Camera placements had to be carefully managed due to the size of the volume. After discussion on the use case with Lúnasa, Ashley Keeler recommended a configuration featuring three cameras in one corner of the capture space and three in the opposite corner to optimise tracking accuracy post-installation.
The Result
The installation of the OptiTrack motion capture system positions Lúnasa at the forefront of space satellite development, enabling validation of their ongoing research with exceptionally high-precision tracking. Dr. Sepehr Meshkinfamfard, Computer Vision Engineer at Lúnasa, reflects on the impact of the solution:
“The OptiTrack system enables high-precision motion tracking for satellite pose estimation and robotic testing in simulated space environments. This enhances the development of autonomous docking, satellite servicing, and on-orbit assembly by providing accurate ground-based validation before deployment.”
“Motion capture provides sub-millimetre accuracy, which is crucial for validating satellite docking manoeuvres. While we have trained our AI models using synthetic images from gaming engines, the missing piece in our robotic lab has been precise ground truth data. OptiTrack fills this gap by providing real-world motion capture datasets, ensuring our models generalise well to space conditions while eliminating the need for costly in-orbit testing.”
Dr. Meshkinfamfard continues discussing the company's future plans,
“Lúnasa is pushing the boundaries of real-time AI in space applications. We aim to integrate real-time feedback loops between motion capture data and our AI models for better adaptive learning. Our next steps include deploying on-orbit vision-based navigation and refining autonomous docking algorithms.”
The Feedback
“Target3D was highly knowledgeable and responsive, helping us optimise the camera setup and tracking volume for our specific needs. Their expertise in calibration and integration made the process seamless.”
Dr Sepehr Meshkinfamfard, Computer Vision Engineer, Lúnasa
Motion capture is now used for hundreds of applications across industries, but you may not know where to start. Chat to our sales team and we can talk you through the possibilities - everything from budget, travel-friendly solutions to large-scale lab installations: sales@target3d.co.uk or (+44) 0203 488 2575.
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