An efficient modular integrated framework for automated 3-D satellite layout optimization: Application of advanced multi-objective metaheuristics

Abstract

Satellite equipment layout optimization is a multidisciplinary engineering challenge governed by rigorous spatial, mass-property, and structural-dynamic constraints. This study presents an integrated, automated framework for constrained three-dimensional satellite equipment layout optimization through direct coupling of multi-objective metaheuristics with CAD and finite element analysis (FEA). By incorporating an FEA-based structural-dynamic evaluation workflow, the proposed methodology considers center-of-mass deviation, cross moments of inertia, and the FEA-based fundamental natural frequency as competing layout objectives, while enforcing geometric containment and non-interference constraints. The optimization problem is addressed using a suite of constrained multi-objective metaheuristic algorithms, namely NSGA-II, ssNSGA-II, SPEA2, and SMPSO, with both simultaneous and sequential evaluation strategies investigated to address the heterogeneous computational costs of the mass-property and modal-analysis objectives. Comparative evaluations against reference baseline solutions and benchmark studies demonstrate improved objective values relative to the adopted benchmark solutions and reveal that layouts favorable in terms of mass balancing are not necessarily optimal with respect to structural-dynamic performance. The proposed framework provides a modular CAD/FEA-in-the-loop methodology for investigating coupled mass-property and structural-dynamic trade-offs in satellite equipment layout design .

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Array, 2026 · DOI ↗