Development of Systems and Algorithms for an Extreme High Resolution Compressive All-Sky Tracking Camera (XCATCAM) for Space Situational Awareness

Abstract

The continuous tracking of moving space objects for space situational awareness (SSA)in particular space debris that is in low Earth orbitdemands an extreme resolution all-sky imaging system that has yet to exist, and if built, it would be at the expense of a colossal SWAP-C and a big data problem. Moving objects in a fixed background can be detected and tracked by difference imaging. However, the tracking information from the noticeable moving space objects in the sky is marginalvery sparsein contrast with the full dimensionality of the space-time datacube where the objects optical traces are embedded, turning the use of a traditional imaging system into a waste of sensing resources. The goal of this project is the development of the technology needed for a scalable wide field-of-view (FoV) compressive tracking system that is able to track the paths of moving objects in the sky at a very high spatial resolution using fewer sensing elements (pixels) than would be needed in conventional difference imaging. Based on compressed sensing and advances in computational imaging, we plan to develop the mathematical modeling for the forward and inverse compressive tracking problem, considering that the tracking information is contained into a sparse set of high resolution curves of the space-time datacube. The project also encompasses the search for the optimal spatial and temporal coding strategies for sampling the optical projections needed for effective compressive target tracking. Finally, we will implement a compressive tracking system by modifying an imaging camera with a phase-only spatial light modulator placed at the pupil plane, and perform on-sky demonstrations using a telescope mount to compensate for sidereal motion. An array of compressive tracking cameras will enable the envisioned extreme resolution compressive all-sky tracking camera (XCATCAM), that can result in a small/low SWAP-C tracking system that could be deployed all over the world...

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 10, 2022
Accession Number
AD1178566

Entities

People

  • Esteban Vera

Organizations

  • Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Algorithms
  • Cameras
  • Compressed Sensing
  • Computer Programming
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Earth Orbits
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering
  • High Resolution
  • High Speed Cameras
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Optical Modulators
  • Scientific Research
  • Situational Awareness
  • Space Objects
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Target Tracking
  • Tracking Cameras

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects