{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T11:33:45Z","timestamp":1782387225205,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,5]],"date-time":"2024-06-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1717545600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program","award":["813644"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["813644"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Minor bodies exhibit considerable variability in shape and surface morphology, posing challenges for spacecraft operations, which are further compounded by highly non-linear dynamics and limited communication windows with Earth. Additionally, uncertainties persist in the shape and surface morphology of minor bodies due to errors in ground-based estimation techniques. The growing need for autonomy underscores the importance of robust image processing and visual-based navigation methods. To address this demand, it is essential to conduct tests on a variety of body shapes and with different surface morphological features. This work introduces the procedural Minor bOdy geNErator Tool (MONET), implemented using an open-source 3D computer graphics software. The starting point of MONET is the three-dimensional mesh of a generic minor body, which is procedurally modified by introducing craters, boulders, and surface roughness, resulting in a photorealistic model. MONET offers the flexibility to generate a diverse range of shapes and surface morphological features, aiding in the recreation of various minor bodies. Users can fine-tune relevant parameters to create the desired conditions based on the specific application requirements. The tool offers the capability to generate two default families of models: rubble-pile, characterized by numerous different-sized boulders, and comet-like, reflecting the typical morphology of comets. MONET serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers involved in minor body exploration missions and related projects, providing insights into the adaptability and effectiveness of guidance and navigation techniques across a wide range of morphological scenarios.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s24113658","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,5]],"date-time":"2024-06-05T05:59:42Z","timestamp":1717567182000},"page":"3658","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["MONET: The Minor Body Generator Tool at DART Lab"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2257-6257","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carmine","family":"Buonagura","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1286-2594","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mattia","family":"Pugliatti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5369-6887","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Topputo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1165","DOI":"10.2514\/1.G000525","article-title":"Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technology Assessment for Future Planetary Science Missions","volume":"38","author":"Quadrelli","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. 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