Inter-satellite link acquisition supported by machine vision

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11799548-B2
Application number	US-202016908993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2020
Priority date	Jun 23, 2020
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus used to reduce the estimated field of uncertainty of satellite positions in space. This reduced field of uncertainty estimate reduces link acquisition time of satellites as they establish inter-satellite optical links between each other. The method and apparatus reduces the estimated field of uncertainty by combining estimated field of uncertainty generated by multiple independent sources. The method further includes combining estimated field of uncertainty generated using existing field of uncertainty techniques with estimated filed of uncertainty created by a machine vision detection and location module. This machine vision detection and location module generates an estimated field of uncertainty that is a result of executing of one or more algorithms to process digital imagery data provided by a passive digital camera.

First claim

I claim:

1. A method for supporting inter-satellite communication link acquisition operations, comprising:
generating, using a passive digital camera, digital imagery data representing one or more optical images of a spatial region potentially containing a target satellite, the digital imagery data comprising spatial patterns indicative of captured light from the spatial region and indicating an image of the target satellite;
processing, using a processor, the digital imagery data to reduce a field of uncertainty, the field of uncertainty being a subset of the spatial region in which the target satellite is expected to be located, the processing performed according to machine vision operations to identify the target satellite or a portion thereof based on the spatial patterns.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spatial region is selected to coincide with a region toward which a communication laser beam is directed, or a region toward which an optical receiver is directed toward for receiving a communication signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the communication laser is aligned to the passive digital camera, the method further comprising steering the communication laser to point at the target satellite once the target satellite has been located.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical images are generated based on light provided to the passive digital camera via a set of optical elements which are also configured to direct a communication laser beam transmitted toward the target satellite, a communication laser beam received from the target satellite, or both.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the field of uncertainty comprises identifying one or more of: a position of the target satellite; an identity of the target satellite; and a location of a communication transmitter or receiver on the target satellite.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein one or more of: the position of the target satellite, the identity of the target satellite, and the location of the communication transmitter are determined using unique visual indicators associated with the target satellite.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the field of uncertainty comprises identifying a position of the target satellite, the method further comprising, based on the position of the target satellite, adjusting optical elements of the satellite to steer a communication laser beam transmitted toward the target satellite, steer a communication laser beam received from the target satellite, or both.

8. A satellite apparatus comprising:
a passive digital camera configured to generate digital imagery information representing one or more optical images of a spatial region potentially containing a target satellite, the digital imagery data comprising spatial patterns indicative of captured light from the spatial region and indicating an image of the target satellite;
a processor configured to receive the generated digital imagery information and process the received digital imagery to reduce a field of uncertainty, the field of uncertainty being a subset of the spatial region in which the target satellite is expected to be located, the processing performed according to machine vision operations to identify the target satellite or a portion thereof based on the spatial patterns; and
at least one of an optical transmitter and an optical receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein processing the field of uncertainty estimate is performed using a trained neural network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the trained neural network includes a deep learning network.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein, the optical receiver receives light from one of:
a communication laser of a single target satellite; and
communication lasers of plural target satellites.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the estimate of the field of uncertainty includes information indicative of one or more of:
location of the target satellite;
identity of the target satellite;
location of the communication transmitter of the target satellite; and
location of the communication receiver of the target satellite.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein one or more of: the location of the target satellite, the identity of the target satellite, and the location of the communication transmitter of the target satellite and location of the communication receiver of the target satellite are determined by the processor using unique visual indicators associated with the target satellite.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the unique visual indicators associated with the target satellite include:
unique visual markings;
unique lighting; and
unique reflections from the target satellite.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the passive digital camera produces digital imagery data representing the field of uncertainty that is co-axial with the telescope.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the digital imagery data represents an estimated field of uncertainty potentially containing a target satellite.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the spatial region coincides with a region toward which a communication laser beam is directed, or a region toward which an optical receiver is directed toward for receiving a communication signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the communication laser is aligned to the passive digital camera, the apparatus further configured to steer the communication laser to point at the target satellite once the target satellite has been located.

19. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more optical images are generated based on light provided to the passive digital camera via a set of optical elements which are also configured to direct a communication laser beam transmitted toward the target satellite, a communication laser beam received from the target satellite, or both.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein reducing the field of uncertainty comprises identifying one or more of: a position of the target satellite; an identity of the target satellite; and a location of a communication transmitter or receiver on the target satellite.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein one or more of: the position of the target satellite, the identity of the target satellite, and the location of the communication transmitter are determined using unique visual indicators associated with the target satellite.

22. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein reducing the field of uncertainty comprises identifying a position of the target satellite, the method further comprising, based on the position of the target satellite, adjusting optical elements of the satellite to steer a communication laser beam transmitted toward the target satellite, steer a communication laser beam received from the target satellite, or both.

Assignees

• Mccormick William Carson
• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mccormick William Carson

Classifications

• H04B10/118 Primary

  specially adapted for satellite communication · CPC title

• G01S17/89

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G06V10/00

  Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding (character recognition in images or video G06V30/10) · CPC title

• G06V20/13

  Satellite images · CPC title