Marco Sabatini

About

Marco Sabatini is a prominent aerospace engineer and robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of space robotics, autonomous systems, and spacecraft control. Based at a leading Italian institution, Sabatini has built an impressive body of research focused on robotic manipulators for on-orbit servicing, debris removal, and the capture of non-cooperative space targets — challenges of growing urgency in the era of increasing orbital congestion. His most influential contribution, "Vibration Control of a Flexible Space Manipulator during On Orbit Operations" (2011, 128 citations), established foundational techniques for managing the structural dynamics of flexible space arms, a critical problem for safe satellite servicing. Subsequent work on dual-arm impedance-PD control (70 citations) and deployable manipulator design for spent launcher removal (52 citations) extended his impact into practical debris mitigation strategies. Sabatini has also made notable contributions to formation flying, vision-based navigation, and multi-robot environmental monitoring, demonstrating remarkable breadth across ground and space domains. His exploration of spacecraft swarm coordination further highlights his forward-looking perspective on distributed autonomous systems. With over 480 cumulative citations across his top works, Sabatini's research continues to shape how engineers approach the next generation of intelligent space operations.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Vibration control of a flexible space manipulator during on orbit operations

   128 citations · 2011
2. 2
   A combined impedance-PD approach for controlling a dual-arm space manipulator in the capture of a non-cooperative target

   70 citations · 2017
3. 3
   Design of robotic manipulators for orbit removal of spent launchers’ stages

   52 citations · 2015
4. 4
   A parametric analysis of a controlled deployable space manipulator for capturing a non-cooperative flexible satellite

   46 citations · 2018
5. 5
   Ground tests for vision based determination and control of formation flying spacecraft trajectories

   35 citations · 2013
6. 6
   Adaptive and robust algorithms and tests for visual-based navigation of a space robotic manipulator

   34 citations · 2012
7. 7
   Optimal target grasping of a flexible space manipulator for a class of objectives

   33 citations · 2010
8. 8
   A swarm of wheeled and aerial robots for environmental monitoring

   31 citations · 2017
9. 9
   Coordinated control of a space manipulator tested by means of an air bearing free floating platform

   30 citations · 2017
10. 10
    Collective control of spacecraft swarms for space exploration

    27 citations · 2009

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links