Research
My main interests lie in flight mechanics and astrodynamics — the dynamics of aerospace vehicles (aircraft, rockets, projectiles, spacecraft), planetary motion, and the navigation and control of all of them. The work is both theoretical — lately, applying dynamical-systems methods to nonlinear dynamics— and computational. I also work on aerospace systems design and development.
I currently advise IULI undergraduate students on:
- Astrodynamics
- Aerospace control and dynamics (satellite, aircraft, rocket)
- Satellite-based ADS-B for air-traffic monitoring and surveillance
- Aircraft design
- Aerospace embedded systems
Current collaboration
- FPGA-based flight control computer with ORPA–BRIN, aimed at Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UAVs.
Student thesis
Collaborative work with former students through thesis advising — typically not published as formal papers — is documented on the Members page.
Open-source tools
We prefer free and open-source tools wherever they meet the workflow.
Computation
- NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Matplotlib — general scientific computing.
- Scilab — control-system simulation.
Aerospace engineering
- Aviary and SUAVE — conceptual aircraft design and mission analysis.
- XFLR5 — preliminary stability analysis of aircraft configurations.
- OpenVSP — 3D parametric aircraft models for engineering analysis.
- OpenFOAM — CFD, in collaboration with Dr. Eng. Ressa Octavianty.
- Digital DATCOM — static stability, high-lift and control, and dynamic-derivative characteristics.
- Arduino and Raspberry Pi for embedded systems.
Writing and bibliography
- LaTeX for manuscripts and slides (including Beamer).
- Zotero for bibliography management.
- Inkscape for vector graphics.
Operating environment
- Ubuntu for daily work.
- Git and GitLab for version control.
- Editors: Emacs, VS Code, or TeXstudio (for LaTeX).
For CAD we use Onshape — open-source alternatives have not yet reached the workflows we need.
Publications
- Shah Jahan, F., Octavianty, R., & Simanjuntak, T. (2025). Open conceptual design architecture for a multi-mission tactical quadcopter using COTS components. Advances in Military Technology. Accepted. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Nasution, M. R. E., & Favian, E. (2025). Probabilistic crash site prediction model using ADS-B data and Monte Carlo simulation. In review. [bib]
- Indarto, M. V., & Simanjuntak, T. (2025). Evaluating the impact of CRM training on Indonesian aviation — a case study. Submitted to Indonesian Journal of Aerospace (IJoA). [bib]
- Isnaini, I., Agung Kusuma, F., & Simanjuntak, T. (2022). Design of quadcopter for radiation monitoring in nuclear region. ICONSTA 2022 in Conjunction with HIMNI Annual Meeting Proceedings. [bib]
- Setyantoro, G. H., & Simanjuntak, T. (2020). Preliminary constellation design and analysis of LEO microsatellites for air-traffic monitoring and surveillance in Indonesia. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2226(1), 060001. [bib]
- Fadilah, D. N., Gunawan, D., & Simanjuntak, T. (2020). Studi penggunaan data Automatic Identification System (AIS) untuk pengawasan kawasan maritim Indonesia. Teknologi Penginderaan, 1(2). [bib]
- Herjuna, D., Siahaan, T., & Simanjuntak, T. (2019). Desain kendaraan militer dengan pendekatan system engineering. Teknologi Persenjataan, 1(2). [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Nakamiya, M., & Kawakatsu, Y. (2012). Design of natural loose formation flying around halo orbits. Transactions of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 55(4), 254–262. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Nakamiya, M., & Kawakatsu, Y. (2011). Natural loose formation flying around halo orbits. Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, 140 (AAS 11-264). [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Nakamiya, M., & Kawakatsu, Y. (2010). Mission design for Jupiter Trojans rendezvous mission. Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, 136 (AAS 10-246). [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Nakamiya, M., & Kawakatsu, Y. (2009). Jupiter Trojans rendezvous mission design. 20th JAXA Workshop on Astrodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Kanagawa, Japan. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Nakamiya, M., & Kawakatsu, Y. (2009). Design of loose formation flying in the vicinity of halo orbits based on initial set values. 20th JAXA Workshop on Astrodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Kanagawa, Japan. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Nakamiya, M., & Kawakatsu, Y. (2009). Feedforward control with proximity feedback for sailcraft formation flying near the L2 point. 19th JAXA Workshop on Astrodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Kanagawa, Japan. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Kawaguchi, J., & Morimoto, M. Y. (2008). Control strategies of formation flying using solar sail in the vicinity of collinear points. 59th International Astronautical Congress, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Kawaguchi, J., & Morimoto, M. Y. (2008). Formation control of sailcraft around collinear Lagrangian points. 18th JAXA Workshop on Astrodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Kanagawa, Japan. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Kawaguchi, J., & Morimoto, M. Y. (2008). Control of satellite formation flying around collinear libration points. 26th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, Hamamatsu, Japan. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Kawaguchi, J., Morimoto, M. Y., Tsuda, Y., & Sawada, H. (2007). Preliminary study on control of satellite formation flying around the L2 point using solar-sail propulsion. 50th Japan Automatic Control Conference, Keio University, Japan. [bib]
- Simanjuntak, T., Kawaguchi, J., Morimoto, M. Y., Tsuda, Y., & Sawada, H. (2007). Preliminary study on satellite formation flying control around the L2 point using solar-sail propulsion. 17th JAXA Workshop on Astrodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Kanagawa, Japan. [bib]