Dshell++: A Component Based, Reusable Space System Simulation Framework

Abstract

This paper describes the multi-mission Dshell++ simulation framework for high fidelity, physics-based simulation of spacecraft, robotic manipulation and mobility systems. Dshell++ is a C++/Python library which uses modern script-driven object-oriented techniques to allow component reuse and a dynamic run-time interface for complex, high-fidelity simulation of spacecraft and robotic systems. The goal of the Dshell++ architecture is to manage the inherent complexity of physics-based simulations while supporting component model reuse across missions. The framework provides several features that support a large degree of simulation configurability and usability.