Advanced Video Guidance Sensor (AVGS) development testing

Abstract

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center was the driving force behind the development of the Advanced Video Guidance Sensor, an active sensor system that provides near-range sensor data as part of an automatic rendezvous and docking system. The sensor determines the relative positions and attitudes between the active sensor and the passive target at ranges up to 300 meters. The AVGS uses laser diodes to illuminate retro-reflectors in the target, a solid-state camera to detect the return from the target, and image capture electronics and a digital signal processor to convert the video information into the relative positions and attitudes. The AVGS will fly as part of the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technologies (DART) in October, 2004. This development effort has required a great deal of testing of various sorts at every phase of development. Some of the test efforts included optical characterization of performance with the intended target, thermal vacuum testing, performance tests in long range vacuum facilities, EMI/EMC tests, and performance testing in dynamic situations. The sensor has been shown to track a target at ranges of up to 300 meters, both in vacuum and ambient conditions, to survive and operate during the thermal vacuum cycling specific to the DART mission, to handle EM1 well, and to perform well in dynamic situations.

Fault Tolerance of Relative Navigation Sensing in Docking Approach of Spacecraft

“…These rates were assumed as shown in Table 1 can be justified as follows. The sensor failure rate is based on the experience with AVGS units described in [11], [14]. No sensor failures were registered in about 1000 hours of lab and flight tests.…”

Proximity operations and docking sensor development

“…The primary NGAVGS modes of operation, based on the OE AVGS modes are as follows: 1) Standby (in which the sensor sends out status messages while awaiting further commands), 2) Acquisition (in which the sensor is commanded to actively seek a target and go into Tracking once a valid target is found), and 3) Tracking (the sensor is actively tracking a target that was found during Acquisition). More information about AVGS can be found in other publications (Howard, 2004). …”

The Advanced Video Guidance Sensor: Orbital Express and the Next Generation

“…The primary AVGS modes of operation used during the OE mission were the following: 1) Standby (in which the sensor sends out status messages while awaiting further commands), 2) Acquisition (in which the sensor is actively seeking a target), and 3) Tracking (the sensor is actively tracking a target). More information about AVGS can be found in other publications (Howard et al, 2004;LeCroy, Hallmark, and Howard, 2007).…”