Event-based vision sensor observations of lightning from the International Space Station: the Falcon Neuro mission

We report on the use of Event Based Sensors (EBS) for lightning detection from the International Space Station (ISS). These detectors currently operate in the visible regime and use embedded electronics in each pixel to allow the sensor generate data in response to contrast changes at each pixel. This highly sparse data is then read out the pixels asynchronously, resulting in a sensor capable of high-speed, high dynamic range, and low bandwidth imaging. This unique read out array makes EBS uniquely capable for high-speed lighting detection. We report on a first generation EBS installed on the ISS called Falcon Neuro which has shown the capability to detect lighting with millisecond temporal resolution and approximately 300m spatial resolution in South America, Africa, Indonesia, and the Indian subcontinent. This more capable focal plane serves as the basis for a new lighting detection payload based on EBS called Falcon ODIN which will fly to the ISS in 2025.