Improved Out-of-Plane Measurement and Modeling for Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Functions

Abstract

Historically, the vast majority of bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurement and modeling research has focused on reflection within the plane-of-incidence (in-plane) and simplified isotropic cases. Remote sensing applications, such as satellite light curve analysis, still struggle with disagreements between observations and simulations, but do not typically model reflection outside the plane-of-incidence (out-of-plane). First, a novel system is designed and constructed to successfully measure out-of-plane material BRDFs near the specular peak with high angular resolution. The system is then used to measure several materials, including a commercially available satellite solar cell. The measurements identify previously unmodeled out-of-plane components, including a significant distraction pattern. Finally, a novel closed-form BRDF model is created which accurately replicates the solar cell's out-of-plane reflection behavior {including the distraction pattern { using traditional BRDF inputs. Ultimately, it is expected that this and other out-of-plane BRDF models may improve the accuracy of light curve analysis and other remote sensing applications.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2021
Accession Number
AD1148661

Entities

People

  • Todd V. Small

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Computer Graphics
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diffraction
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Geometry
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Helium Neon Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Scattering
  • Space Force
  • Space Objects
  • Spacecraft

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Spectroscopy.
  • Structural Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • Space