Optical simulator and testbed for spacecraft star tracker development

Boone, Bradley G.; Bruzzi, J.R.; Dellinger, W.F.; Kluga, Bernard E.; Strobehn, K. M.

doi:10.1117/12.619133

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Historically VBN test benches have been designed on optical tables to characterize star trackers performances [6][7][8][9][10][11] or to simulate close proximity or landing operations in highly-non-linear dynamics exploiting robotic arms [12][13][14][15]. Only recently, work has been done to design and build test benches that aim to validate VBN algorithms and their integration with cameras [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TINYV3RSE: The DART Vision-Based Navigation Test-bench

Pugliatti

Franzese

Panicucci

et al. 2022

AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum

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Image processing and vision-based navigation algorithms require images for design, testing, and validation. For space exploration purposes, it is complex if not impossible to retrieve realistic images. To mitigate this, two approaches can be used: high-fidelity rendering of celestial bodies or hardware-in-the-loop testing. In this work, we focus on the latter by elaborating on the design, implementation, validation, and calibration of a vision-based navigation test bench called TinyV3RSE . The design of such facility has been a collaborative effort at the Deep-space Astrodynamics Research & Technology (DART) group, which will benefit from its usage in various projects and missions in which is involved. In this work, for the first time, we present the facility design, the current calibration procedure, and also some preliminary results. These are focused on the image processing in a small-body mission and on the performance of a traditional and well-known optical navigation algorithm about the Moon.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TINYV3RSE: The DART Vision-Based Navigation Test-bench

Pugliatti

Franzese

Panicucci

et al. 2022

AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum

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“…These devices present a static or a dynamic simulation of the scene observed by the star tracker so that the output of the star tracker can be compared with the input data provided by the OGSE [1,2]. Some laboratory facilities rely on the use of laser or light emitting diodes (LEDs) to mimic a static scene that portraits the brightest stars of the night sky [3]. Another approach is the one that relies on the use of a large LCD screen showing the simulated star-field viewed by the star sensor.…”

Section: Virtual Conference 30 March-2 April 2021mentioning

confidence: 99%

Main technical features and performance evaluation of a miniaturized test system for star trackers

Nardino¹,

Burresi²,

Cecchi³

et al. 2021

International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2020

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The validation of the correct functioning of star trackers is a crucial step for the success of any space mission. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest for the development of miniaturized, light-weighted test systems to be installed directly on the star tracker, opening the way to the test of completely assembled, on-board attitude sensors in pre-launch environment.Here we present the main technical characteristics of a new prototype, the MINISTAR, recently developed by a consortium of Italian enterprises and the Applied Physics Institute of the National Research Council. Besides its main technical features, here we present the results of a set of tests for its performance evaluation, with particular reference to its radiometric and geometric calibration in the laboratory. The MINISTAR can generate synthetic images of dynamic star fields for the simultaneous test of multiple star trackers (up to three head devices). The generation of dynamic star fields in a realistic scenario also includes large objects, such as the Sun or the Moon, and disturbances (e.g. cosmic rays and stray light effects).Thanks to its reduced dimensions and weight, the MINISTAR is suitable for the installation on the star tracker's baffle. Special attention has also been paid to the use of materials and technologies that could be compliant for vacuum operation in the future. Thanks to the design and construction of an interchangeable mechanical interface, the MINISTAR is compatible with the majority of star trackers available on the market.

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“…Traditional methods mainly focus on the calibration of the single star tracker. A typical calibration method is conducted by simulating starlight coming from different directions with an expensive precision turntable and a highly accurate star simulator in the laboratory [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Laboratory calibration is generally more precise and has a more convenient calibration process [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Calibration Method for a Star Tracker and Gyroscope Units Integrated System

Tan

Dai

et al. 2018

Sensors

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The integration of a star tracker and gyroscope units (GUs) can take full advantage of the benefits of each, and provide continuous and accurate attitude information with a high update rate. The systematic error calibration of the integrated system is a crucial step to guarantee its attitude accuracy. In this paper, a comprehensive calibration method for the star tracker and GUs integrated system is proposed from a global perspective. Firstly, the observation model of the predicted star centroid error (PSCE) with respect to the systematic errors including the star tracker intrinsic parameter errors, GUs errors and fixed angle errors is accurately established. Then, the systematic errors are modeled by a series of differential equations, based on which the state-space model is established. Finally, the systematic errors are decoupled and estimated by a Kalman filter according to the established state-space model and observation model. The coupling between the errors of the principal point and subcomponents of the fixed angles (i.e., normalΨx and normalΨy) is analysed. Both simulations and experiments indicate that the proposed method is effective at estimating the systematic errors of the star tracker and GUs integrated system with high accuracy and robustness with respect to different star centroid accuracies and gyroscope noise levels.

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Optical simulator and testbed for spacecraft star tracker development

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

TINYV3RSE: The DART Vision-Based Navigation Test-bench

TINYV3RSE: The DART Vision-Based Navigation Test-bench

Main technical features and performance evaluation of a miniaturized test system for star trackers

A Comprehensive Calibration Method for a Star Tracker and Gyroscope Units Integrated System

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