Method for tracking a space object using on-board radar and lidar systems
AssigneeSpaceable
InventorsBenjamin Gigleux, Julien Cantegreil, Henri Carron
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method of tracking a target on an orbital trajectory by a spacecraft, the method comprising an acquisition phase which comprises the steps of activating a lidar, acquiring signals from the lidar system, determining target trajectory data from the lidar signals, wherein the spacecraft is engaged on a trajectory to approach or inspect the target, which trajectory is determined based on the target trajectory data, and if the target is no longer detected, activating a short-range detection phase, comprising activation of a wide-field radar.
Claims14
A method of tracking, by means of a spacecraft, a target located on a known trajectory, the method including an acquisition phase comprising steps of:
- activating a lidar system in a scan mode to scan a region in an estimated direction of a target,
- acquiring signals from the lidar system,
- determining trajectory data of the target, using the acquired lidar system signals,
- engaging the spacecraft on a trajectory to approach or inspect the target, which trajectory is determined based on the target trajectory data, and
- if the target is no longer detected in the acquisition phase, activating a short-range detection phase of the target, comprising the steps of:
- activating a wide field of view radar,
- acquiring and processing signals from the wide field of view radar to detect the target, and
- if the target is detected in the signals from the wide field of view radar, activating the acquisition phase, otherwise engaging the spacecraft on a retreat trajectory from the target.
A non-transitory computer readable memory storing a program and which, when executed by a computer connected to the memory, configures the computer to:
- activate a lidar system (LDRS) in a scan mode to scan a region in an estimated direction of a target,
- acquire signals from the lidar system,
- determine trajectory data of the target, using the acquired lidar system signals,
- engage the spacecraft on a trajectory to approach or inspect the target, which trajectory is determined based on the target trajectory data, and
- if the target is no longer detected in the acquisition phase, activate a short-range detection phase (STP) of the target, wherein the computer is further configured to:
- activate a wide field of view radar,
- acquire and processing signals from the wide field of view radar to detect the target, and
- if the target is detected in the signals from the wide field of view radar, activate the acquisition phase, otherwise engage the spacecraft on a retreat trajectory from the target.
A computer comprising:
- interface circuits for receiving data from a wide field of view radar;
- and
- a lidar system (LDRS), wherein the computer is configured to:
- activate the lidar system (LDRS) in a scan mode to scan a region in an estimated direction of a target,
- acquire signals from the lidar system,
- determine trajectory data of the target, using the acquired lidar system signals,
- engage the spacecraft on a trajectory to approach or inspect the target, which trajectory is determined based on the target trajectory data, and
- if the target is no longer detected in the acquisition phase, activate a short-range detection phase (STP) of the target, wherein the computer is further configured to:
- activate a wide field of view radar,
- acquire and processing signals from the wide field of view radar to detect the target, and
- if the target is detected in the signals from the wide field of view radar, activate the acquisition phase, otherwise engage the spacecraft on a retreat trajectory from the target.
A spacecraft comprising:
- a computer;
- a wide field of view radar;
- and
- a lidar system,
- wherein the computer comprises interface circuits for receiving data from the wide field of view radar,
- wherein the computer is configured to:
- activate the lidar system (LDRS) in a scan mode to scan a region in an estimated direction of a target,
- acquire signals from the lidar system,
- determine trajectory data of the target, using the acquired lidar system signals,
- engage the spacecraft on a trajectory to approach or inspect the target, which trajectory is determined based on the target trajectory data, and
- if the target is no longer detected in an acquisition phase, activate a short-range detection phase (STP) of the target, wherein the computer is further configured to:
- activate a wide field of view radar,
- acquire and processing signals from the wide field of view radar to detect the target, and
- if the target is detected in the signals from the wide field of view radar, activate the acquisition phase, otherwise engage the spacecraft on a retreat trajectory from the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.