Abstract: A novel monocular vision-based relative position and attitude measurement algorithm named as the Similar Iteration algorithm is presented for non-cooperative spacecrafts in this paper. The algorithm derives a new depth iteration mechanism from principle of triangular similitude and involves two steps, i.e. the depth estimation and solving the absolute orientation problem. Numerical simulations have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Key words: monocular vision')">monocular vision, non-cooperative spacecraft, ')">relative position and attitude