Daniele Pecorella

Current Position

Research topic:
On-board technologies for the protection of in-orbit resources based on artificial intelligence.

Research and scientific activities carried out:

• December 2023 - March 2025: Research fellow at the Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna.

  Research activity theme: "Mission analysis for the nano-satellite of the SMAL-SAT mission".

  Description: The SMAL-SAT mission is dedicated to environmental monitoring in the Emilia-Romagna region. The project is led by a consortium headed by the Laboratory of Microsatellites and Space Microsystems at the University of Bologna. It involves the development of three enabling technologies: a spectrometric payload, a mechanism for deploying solar panels, and a green propulsion system for orbital control.

  Main research activities:

  1. Definition of high-level objectives, needs, and constraints of the environmental monitoring mission.
  2. Identification of a mission architecture to meet the objectives.
  3. Definition of requirements.
  4. Mission analysis and identification of the orbital configuration based on mission constraints.
  5. Analysis of requirements and development of system budgets (link, power, mass, and pointing budgets).
  6. Comprehensive characterization of the orbital scenario and evaluation of performance in terms of coverage and maximum latency time.
  7. Identification of a propulsion system architecture that meets mission requirements.
  8. Detailed design of a thruster prototype.
  9. Planning and execution of a functional verification test campaign for the thruster prototype in a relevant environment.
     
  
  
• December 2022 – November 2023: Research grant at CIRI AERO, Laboratory of Microsatellites and Space Microsystems. Research activity theme: Design of rotational platforms for low-friction attitude dynamics tests on CubeSats 1U-12U for a project commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA). Main activities carried out: Mechanical design, prototyping and verification, design of handling procedures, and verification tests, security certification.

• September 2021 – March 2022: Master's thesis carried out in collaboration with the École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) Montreal, Canada, for the design and optimization methodology of a composite wing airfoil and internal mechanism of Wing Morphing (Droop-Nose Leading Edge) for an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).
• March 2020: Internship at CIRI AERO

  Activity theme: Development of a model for a coarse sun sensor using solar panel measurements for the ESEO satellite.

  Tutoring positions held at Unibo

• December 2024 - May 2025: Teaching tutor in Calculus and Linear Algebra (Tutorato OFA) for the Bachelor's Degree in Economic and Finance - Bologna
• September 2024 - December 2024: Teaching tutor in Mathematics for the Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Architecture - Cesena
• September 2024 - November 2024: Teaching tutor in "Pre-Corso di Matematica di base e geometria Euclidea" -  Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Architecture - Cesena
• October 2024: Teaching tutor in Mathematics Tutorials for the Bachelor's Degree in Economic and Finance - Bologna
• December 2023 - January 2024: Teaching tutor in Mathematics for the Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Architecture - Cesena
• December 2023 - May 2024: Teaching tutor in Calculus and Linear Algebra (Tutorato OFA) for the Bachelor's Degree in Economic and Finance - Bologna
• September 2023 – October 2023: Teaching tutor in Mathematics Tutorials for the Bachelor's Degree in Economic and Finance - Bologna
• September 2022 – October 2023: Teaching tutor in Numerical Methods for the Master's Degree in Offshore Engineering - Ravenna
• September 2022 – October 2022: Teaching tutor for supporting Mathematics and Physics knowledge recovery activities at the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology FABIT
• September 2017 – October 2021: Peer tutor for students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) in the Aerospace Engineering faculty

  Education

• March 2022: Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bologna.

Master's thesis title: "Methodology for the design and optimization of a morphing wing droop-nose structure for greener aircraft."

Final grade: 110/110 summa cum laude

• March 2017: Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Palermo.

Bachelor's thesis title: "Optimization of a plate for tibial plateau synthesis."

Final grade: 110/110 summa cum laude