Chau Phan

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Chau Phan is a pioneering researcher in ultra-wideband (UWB) radio frequency tracking systems, with a career dedicated to advancing precise, high-resolution localization for space exploration. His primary research areas encompass UWB time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) and angle-of-arrival (AOA) technologies, applied to critical NASA missions. Phan’s major contributions include leading the development of a prototype UWB 3D proximity tracking system at NASA Johnson Space Center, designed to track lunar and Mars rovers and astronauts during early exploration missions—a system detailed in his most-cited work (14 citations). He also engineered a UWB tracking system for the Mini-AERCam, a free-flying robotic camera used for surveillance around the International Space Station, enabling precise localization of this autonomous vehicle (8 citations). Additionally, his work on angle-of-arrival tracking systems (2 citations) advanced triangulation methods for locating UWB-transmitter-equipped astronauts. With a total of 24 citations across his key papers, Phan’s innovations directly support NASA’s goals of enhancing crew safety and autonomous navigation in space. His notable achievements include translating theoretical UWB principles into operational prototypes for extreme environments, marking him as a key figure in proximity tracking for human and robotic spaceflight.