Daniele Pecorella

Current Position

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:

• Definition of high-level objectives, needs, and constraints of the environmental monitoring mission.
• Identification of a mission architecture to meet the objectives.
• Definition of requirements.
• Mission analysis and identification of the orbital configuration based on mission constraints.
• Analysis of requirements and development of system budgets (link, power, mass, and pointing budgets).
• Comprehensive characterization of the orbital scenario and evaluation of performance in terms of coverage and maximum latency time.
• Identification of a propulsion system architecture that meets mission requirements.
• Detailed design of a thruster prototype.
• Planning and execution of a functional verification test campaign for the thruster prototype in a relevant environment.

  Research and scientific activities carried out:

• 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 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