M. Anctil
Papers
3
Total Citations
61
H-Index
3
About
M. Anctil is a leading researcher in autonomous space operations, specializing in real-time 3D vision and pose estimation for satellite servicing. Their work focuses on enabling spacecraft to autonomously rendezvous and dock with uncooperative targets—a critical capability for debris removal and on-orbit maintenance. Anctil’s most influential contribution is the development of the 3D LASSO algorithm (2005, 33 citations), which provides real-time pose estimation from 3D sensor data, overcoming the challenges of dynamic lighting and limited field of view in space. This foundational work was extended with the TriDAR vision system (2006, 13 citations), selected for the Hubble Robotic Servicing mission, demonstrating practical on-orbit application. Anctil further advanced the field by adapting the SoftPOSIT algorithm for infrared cameras (2015, 15 citations), enabling robust pose estimation of uncooperative spacecraft during proximity operations. With over 60 total citations across key publications, Anctil’s research has directly shaped autonomous rendezvous and docking technologies, bridging the gap between laboratory algorithms and flight-ready systems for critical space missions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Real-time 3D vision solution for on-orbit autonomous rendezvous and docking13 citations · 2006