• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.9-17
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• 2018

For Earth observation, a small satellite camera has relatively weak structural stability compared to medium-sized satellite, resulting in misalignment of optical components due to severe launching and space environments. These alignment errors can deteriorate the optical performance of satellite cameras. In this study, we proposed a 3-axis focus mechanism to compensate misalignment in a small satellite camera. This mechanism consists of three piezo-electric actuators to perform x-axis and y-axis tilt with de-space compensation. Design requirements for the focus mechanism were derived from the design of the Schmidt-Cassegrain target optical system. To compensate the misalignment of the secondary mirror (M2), the focus mechanism was installed just behind the M2 to control the 3-axis movement of M2. In this case, flexure design with Box-Behnken test plan was used to minimize optical degradation due to wave front error. The wave front error was analyzed using ANSYS. The fabricated focus mechanism demonstrated excellent servo performance in experiments with PID servo control.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.8-15
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• 2018

For small earth observation satellites, alignment between the optical components is important for precise observation. However, satellite cameras are structurally subject to misalignment in the launch environment where vibration excitations and impacts apply, and in space environments where zero gravity, vacuum, radiant heat and degassing occur. All of these variables can cause misalignment among the optical components. The misalignment among optical components results in degradation of image quality, and a re-alignment process is needed to compensate for the misalignment. This process of re-alignment between optical components is referred to as a refocusing process. In this paper, we proposed a 3 - axis focusing mechanism to perform the refocusing process. This mechanism is attached to the back of the secondary mirror and consists of three piezoelectric inertia-friction actuators to compensate the x-axis, y-axis tilt, and de-space through three-axis motion. The fabricated focus mechanism demonstrated excellent servo performance by experimenting with PD servo control.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.693-704
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• 2012

Space-born remote sensing camera systems tend to be developed to have very high performances. They are developed to provide extremely small ground sample distance, wide swath width, and good MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) at the expense of big volume, massive weight, and big power consumption. Therefore, the camera system occupies relatively big portion of the satellite bus from the point of mass and volume. However, the camera systems for lunar exploration don't need to have such high performances. Instead, it should be versatile for various usages under various operating environments. It should be light and small and should consume small power. In order to be used for national program of lunar exploration, electro-optical versatile camera system, called MAEPLE (Multi-Application Electro-Optical Payload for Lunar Exploration), has been designed after the derivation of camera system requirements. A ground model of the camera system has been manufactured to identify and secure relevant key technologies. The ground model was mounted on an aircraft and checked if the basic design concept would be valid and versatile functions implemented on the camera system would worked properly. In this paper, results of design and functional test performed with the field campaigns and air-born imaging are introduced.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.70-74
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• 2015

In this paper, satellite communication based video surveillance system that consisted of ultra-small aperture terminals with small-size smart vision sensor is proposed. The events such as forest fire, smoke, intruder movement are detected automatically in field and false alarms are minimized by using intelligent and high-reliable video analysis algorithms. The smart vision sensor is necessary to achieve high-confidence, high hardware endurance, seamless communication and easy maintenance requirements. To satisfy these requirements, real-time digital signal processor, camera module and satellite transceiver are integrated as a smart vision sensor-based ultra-small aperture terminal. Also, high-performance video analysis and image coding algorithms are embedded. The video analysis functions and performances were verified and confirmed practicality through computer simulation and vision sensor prototype test.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2000

A space-borne earth observation camera is an electro-optical instrument to measure the characteristics of the earth's surface, and to transmit the measured data to a ground station(s). The specifications of a space-borne camera, such as resolution, swath width and observation bands, are determined by its mission objectives. This paper lists some specifications of a camera suitable for small satellite and then presents an optical design, with the results of tolerancing analysis, which satisfies the given specifications. tions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.472-478
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• 2015

This paper describes the design of the active optical compensation movements(at focal plane, secondary mirror) for the image stabilization of a small satellite camera. The movements can correct optical misalignment on-line and directly compensate vibration disturbances in the focal plane. Since the devices are installed inside the space camera, it has an remarkable advantage to deal with the structural deformation of a space camera effectively. In this paper, the requirements of the active optical compensation movements for 1m GSD small satellite camera have been analyzed. Based on the established requirements, the design of the active compensation movements have been conducted. The designed active optical compensation system can control 5 axes movements independently to compensate micro-vibration disturbances in the focal plane and to refocus the optical misaligned satellite camera.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.26-36
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• 2019

The precise alignment between optical components is required in high-resolution earth observation satellites. However, the misalignment of optical components occurs due to external factors such as severe satellite launch environment and space environment. A satellite optical system with a focus mechanism is required to compensate for the image quality degraded by these misalignments. This study designed, fabricated, aligned precisely, and carried out a performance tests for the image quality of the system. The satellite optical camera performance tests were carried out to check the image quality change by operating the focus mechanism and to analyze the satellite optical system MTF by photographing USAF target using the autocollimator. According to the experimental results, the misalignments can be compensated sufficiently with the focus mechanism. Finally the basic data for re-focusing algorithm of the optical system was obtained through this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2005

This paper proposes method for determining exterior orientation parameters (EOPs) from the RPC mathematical camera model of the satellite image. SPOT satellite stereo pair is pre-tested using the proposed method. As results that, geopositioning errors are similar with those of the original EOPs. Differences between EOPs determined from the RPC and original EOPs were small. IKONOS Geo-level stereo pair is tested by the proposed method. Results of this method are compared with those of the RPC block adjustment method which have been verified in reported studies. Consequently, the proposed method showed accuracy similar to the RPC block adjustment method. The digital elevation models (DEMs) of sample area acquired by the two method almost did not have a difference.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 2016

In this paper, position control of focal plane compensation device using piezoelectric actuator is conducted. The forcal plane compensation device installed on earth observation satellite camera compensates micro-vibration from reaction wheels. In this study, four experimental models of the open-loop compensation device are derived using MATLAB system identification toolbox in the input range of 0~50Hz. Subsequently, the PID controller for each model is designed and the performance test of each controller is conducted through MATLAB/Simulink. According to frequency response analysis of the closed-loop compensation device system, the PID controller designed for 38~50Hz input range has enough tracking performance for the whole 0~50Hz input range. The maximum output error is about $1{\mu}m$ for the input range. The simulation results has been verified by the experimental method.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2015

In this study, optical design for small satellite camera equipped with online optical compensation movements has been conducted. Satellite camera equipped with compensation movements at M2 mirror and focal plane can guarantee the MTF performance through the focal plane image stabilization and the on-orbit optical alignment. The designed optical system is schmidt-cassegrain type that has M1 mirror of a diameter 200mm, GSD 3.8m at an altitude of 700km, and 50 % MTF performance. The performance of the designed optical system has been analyzed through the method of ray aberration curve, spot diagram, and MTF. It has been found by the optical performance analysis that the designed optical system satisfies the optical requirements of satellite camera equipped with online optical compensation movements.