Leonard Felicetti
Sapienza University of Rome, Cranfield University, Luleå University of Technology
Papers
10
Total Citations
115
H-Index
4
About
Leonard Felicetti is a pioneering researcher in space robotics, on-orbit servicing, and autonomous spacecraft systems, whose work addresses some of the most pressing challenges in modern space exploration and debris management. With a career spanning over a decade, Felicetti has made significant contributions to the design and control of robotic systems intended for orbital operations, accumulating over 115 citations across his body of work. His most celebrated contribution, "Design of Robotic Manipulators for Orbit Removal of Spent Launchers' Stages" (2015, 52 citations), established foundational principles for active debris removal — a critical concern as Earth's orbital environment becomes increasingly congested. His complementary work on adaptive thrust vector control (2014, 22 citations) further advanced the practical mechanics of debris capture and de-orbit maneuvering. Felicetti has also pushed boundaries in humanoid space robotics, developing trajectory optimization algorithms for extravehicular activities aboard the International Space Station, and proposing sophisticated task-space control frameworks for high-degrees-of-freedom on-orbit robots. His research integrates visual servoing, multibody dynamics, and autonomous grappling hardware, making him a versatile and impactful voice in next-generation space systems engineering.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Design of robotic manipulators for orbit removal of spent launchers’ stages52 citations · 2015
- 2Adaptive Thrust Vector Control during On-Orbit Servicing22 citations · 2014
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- 6Design of debris removal missions performed by robotic graspers4 citations · 2012
- 7Modeling the formationkeeping control with multibody codes4 citations · 2012
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- 10On-orbit Free-floating Manipulation using a Two-arm Robotic System2 citations · 2021