Randomization based redundant collection task scheduling for mitigating occlusions in sensing by small satellite constellations

A system, comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• one or more communication interfaces;
• and
• one or more hardware processors coupled to the memory via the one or more communication interfaces, wherein the one or more hardware processors are configured by the instructions to:
• receive a request from a user, wherein the request is associated with generating a collection task schedule for a set of small satellites grouped as a satellite constellation for a plurality of regions of observations, and wherein the request comprises a scheduling horizon indicative of a time duration for which the collection task schedule is generated;
• tessellate each region of observation from the plurality of region of observations into a plurality of sub-regions based on a sensing capability of the satellite constellation;
• generate a plurality of track data for the satellite constellation for a predefined interval range of the scheduling horizon, wherein the plurality of track data represents position of a corresponding satellite from the satellite constellation over earth for a period of the predefined interval range of the scheduling horizon;
• compute a set of collection opportunities by each satellite in the satellite constellation for each sub-region from the plurality of sub-regions based on the plurality of track data for the satellite constellation;
• and
• generate the collection task schedule for each satellite in the satellite constellation for each region from the plurality of regions using a randomized selection based algorithm, wherein the randomized selection based algorithm comprises:
• creating a Boolean array of a predefined size with each element of the Boolean array initialized as false;
• iteratively performing for the predefined size of the Boolean array, steps of:
• randomly selecting an element of the Boolean array;
• generating a random number within a predefined range;
• setting value of the randomly selected element of the Boolean array to true when the generated random number is more than a threshold;
• and
• creating, by including the randomly selected element of the Boolean array set as true, a subset of collection opportunities from the set of collection opportunities by each satellite in the satellite constellation for each sub-region;
• and
• generating the collection task schedule for each satellite in the satellite constellation for each sub-region from the plurality of sub-regions, using the subset of collection opportunities.

One or more non-transitory computer readable mediums comprising one or more instructions which when executed by one or more hardware processors cause:

• receiving a request from a user, wherein the request is associated with generating a collection task schedule for a set of small satellites grouped as a satellite constellation for a plurality of regions of observations, and wherein the request comprises a scheduling horizon indicative of a time duration for which the collection task schedule is generated;
• tessellating each region of observation from the plurality of region of observations into a plurality of sub-regions based on a sensing capability of the satellite constellation;
• generating a plurality of track data for the satellite constellation for a predefined interval range of the scheduling horizon, wherein the plurality of track data represents position of a corresponding satellite from the satellite constellation over earth for a period of the predefined interval range of the scheduling horizon;
• computing a set of collection opportunities by each satellite in the satellite constellation for each sub-region from the plurality of sub-regions based on the plurality of track data for the satellite constellation;
• and
• generating the collection task schedule for each satellite in the satellite constellation for each region from the plurality of regions using a randomized selection based algorithm, wherein the randomized selection based algorithm comprises:
• creating a Boolean array of a predefined size with each element of the Boolean array initialized as false;
• iteratively performing for the predefined size of the Boolean array, steps of:
• randomly selecting an element of the Boolean array;
• generating a random number within a predefined range;
• setting value of the randomly selected element of the Boolean array to true when the generated random number is more than a threshold;
• and
• creating, by including the randomly selected element of the Boolean array set as true, a subset of collection opportunities from the set of collection opportunities by each satellite in the satellite constellation for each sub-region;
• and
• generating the collection task schedule for each satellite in the satellite constellation for each sub-region from the plurality of sub-regions, using the subset of collection opportunities.