Event-based sensing for space situational awareness

Gregory Cohen, Saeed Afshar, Andre van Schaik, Andrew Wabnitz, Travis Bessell, Mark Rutten, Brittany Morreale

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paper

Abstract

![CDATA[A revolutionary type of imaging device, known as a silicon retina or event-based sensor, has recently been developed and is gaining in popularity in the field of artificial vision systems. These devices are inspired by a biological retina and operate in a significantly different way to traditional CCD-based imaging sensors. While a CCD produces frames of pixel intensities, an event-based sensor produces a continuous stream of events, each of which is generated when a pixel detects a change in log light intensity. These pixels operate asynchronously and independently, producing an event-based output with high temporal resolution. There are also no fixed exposure times, allowing these devices to offer a very high dynamic range independently for each pixel. Additionally, these devices offer high-speed, low power operation and a sparse spatiotemporal output. As a consequence, the data from these sensors must be interpreted in a significantly different way to traditional imaging sensors and this paper explores the advantages this technology provides for space imaging. The applicability and capabilities of event-based sensors for SSA applications are demonstrated through telescope field trials. Trial results have confirmed that the devices are capable of observing resident space objects from LEO through to GEO orbital regimes. Significantly, observations of RSOs were made during both day-time and night-time (terminator) conditions without modification to the camera or optics. The event based sensor’s ability to image stars and satellites during day-time hours offers a dramatic capability increase for terrestrial optical sensors. This paper shows the field testing and validation of two different architectures of event-based imaging sensors. An event-based sensor’s asynchronous output has an intrinsically low data-rate. In addition to low-bandwidth communications requirements, the low weight, low-power and high-speed make them ideally suitable to meeting the demanding challenges required by space-based SSA systems. Results from these experiments and the systems developed highlight the applicability of event-based sensors to ground and space-based SSA tasks.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 18th Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS 2017), 19-22 September 2017, Hawaii
PublisherAMOS
Number of pages13
Publication statusPublished - 2017
EventAdvanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference -
Duration: 11 Sept 2018 → …

Conference

ConferenceAdvanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference
Period11/09/18 → …

Keywords

  • silicon retinas
  • vision
  • outer space
  • neuromorphics

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