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About

Alex Caon is a space robotics researcher focused on enabling autonomous on-orbit servicing (OOS) and close-proximity operations. His work addresses a critical challenge in modern spaceflight: extending the operational life of satellites and managing space debris through robotic capture and manipulation. Caon’s major contributions center on developing and testing key hardware technologies for space robots. He led the development of a low-cost robotic arm for simulating rendezvous and docking maneuvers, and designed a novel “smart capture tool” that establishes a rigid connection with target satellites. To enhance autonomous capture, he also characterized a new positioning sensor and evaluated infrared phototransistor-based sensors for close-proximity sensing. His most cited work, “Development and test of a robotic arm for experiments on close proximity operations” (21 citations), provides foundational experimental data for robotic arm performance in simulated space conditions. With a total of over 40 citations across his core papers, Caon’s research bridges the gap between laboratory testing and flight-ready systems, directly supporting future OOS and on-orbit assembly missions. His hands-on approach to assembly, integration, and testing of robotic facilities makes him a key contributor to the practical advancement of autonomous space robotics.