Cristobal Garrido and Jonathan Messer at the 2026 IEEE Aerospace Conference in Big Sky, Montana.

Researchers from the Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at the University of Southern California presented their latest work at the 2026 IEEE Aerospace Conference, held in Big Sky, Montana. The conference is a premier international venue that brings together experts from academia, industry, and government to discuss advances in aerospace science and engineering.

Two SERC research efforts were highlighted during the conference:

Jonathan Messer presented “Updated Model for the Use of the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) for Satellite Attitude Control.” The work introduces an improved model for the interaction of solar radiation pressure with Digital Micromirror Devices, accounting for effects such as micromirror self-shadowing and the projection of non-incident light. These refinements help improve the accuracy of models used to evaluate DMD-based propulsion concepts for propellant-free spacecraft attitude control.

Cristóbal Garrido presented “Development of a Hardware Test-Bed for Sensor Fusion in Rendezvous and Proximity Operations.” This project describes the design of a flexible and cost-effective experimental platform that integrates multiple sensors—including depth cameras, depth sensors, thermal imaging, and AI vision systems—to study autonomous spacecraft navigation and relative motion estimation in simulated rendezvous scenarios.

Cristobal Garrido presents his work at the conference.

Together, these presentations highlight SERC’s ongoing work in spacecraft systems, autonomous operations, and innovative spacecraft control technologies. Participation in the IEEE Aerospace Conference provides an important opportunity for SERC researchers to share their results with the global aerospace community and engage in collaborations that advance the future of space engineering.