Laboratory test of an APS-based sun sensor prototype

Abstract

This paper deals with design and prototype development of an Active Pixel Sensor -based miniature sun sensor and a laboratory facility for its indoor test and calibration. The miniature sun sensor is described and the laboratory test facility is presented in detail. The major focus of the paper is on tests and calibration of the sensor. Two different calibration functions have been adopted. They are based, respectively, on a geometrical model, which has required least-squares optimisation of system physical parameters estimates, and on neural networks. Calibration results are presented for the above solutions, showing that accuracy in the order of 0.01° has been achieved. Neural calibration functions have attained better performance thanks to their intrinsic auto-adaptive structure.

An error compensation method for a linear array sun sensor with a V-shaped slit

“…With the progress of MEMS (microelectro mechanical systems), integrated design and precision manufacturing technology, microsatellites have developed rapidly in the last decade [1,2]. This puts forward higher requests to the miniaturization specifications (such as weight, size, and cost) of attitude measurement devices [3,4].…”