Finn Ankersen

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Finn Ankersen is a leading expert in autonomous space robotics, with a primary focus on on-orbit servicing, active debris removal, and coupled control of spacecraft-manipulator systems. His work is foundational to the European Space Agency’s e.Deorbit mission, which aims to safely remove the massive Envisat satellite from orbit. Ankersen’s key contribution lies in solving the complex challenge of synchronizing the motion between a chaser spacecraft and a tumbling target, while simultaneously controlling the robotic arm during capture—a problem of coupled dynamics that is critical for future debris removal and satellite servicing missions. His most cited paper (2017, 11 citations) details this coupled control architecture for e.Deorbit, while his work on the COMRADE project (2018, 5 citations) compares robust control methods, including H-infinity and nonlinear Lyapunov-based approaches, to ensure stability and precision in these high-stakes maneuvers. By bridging control theory with real-world mission constraints, Ankersen’s research directly enables safer, more reliable robotic operations in space, helping to turn the vision of a sustainable orbital environment into a practical reality.