Optimizing Requirements for a Compact Spaceborne Adaptive Spectral Imaging System in Subpixel Target Detection Applications

Abstract

We developed a process to provide design recommendations for compact spaceborne spectral imaging systems with adaptive band selection capabilities. Our focus application was subpixel target detection, and we analyzed a set of mission scenarios to find relationships in detection performance between selected parameters of interest. We used an analytic model to predict performance and generate trade curves, then simulated a scene to analyze potential operational effects on performance for the selected target and background combinations. Using these models, we predicted and assessed each scenario to provide recommendations for mission feasibility and system design. The parameters we selected for analysis were target fill fraction, noise, number of bands, and scene complexity to find critical points in the trade space and reach a set of recommendations. We examined the operational effects by simulating a realistic scenario and ensuring key real-world phenomena were captured within the spectral images. Our results produced recommendations for each mission and provided a proof of concept for a process to analyze designs of miniature spaceborne imaging systems.