Optical Correlator for Landing and Identification of Landing Sites

Paper number

IAC-06-D2.6.09

Author

Dr. Alain Bergeron, INO, Canada

Coauthor

Dr. Bernd Harnisch, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Pascal Bourqui, INO, Canada

Year

2006

Abstract

With the emergence of planetary robotic missions, the automated identification of landing sites and the automatic landing play a role of increasing importance. 

However, the transmission delay between the vehicle and earth and the landing speed preclude the use of earth computing resources. As such these automated tasks require massive onboard processing capabilities to provide rapid feedback to the vehicle.

Optical correlation, based on the use of light for computation, can provide fast identification and tracking capabilities. Massive computing can be achieved through its parallel architecture within a reduced mass and power envelope. Vehicle rotation, related to orientation, and scale, related to distance between the vehicle and the ground, can also be evaluated through multiple correlation analysis. Onboard optical correlator could thus potentially provide real-time feedback onboard vehicle for better identification of the landing sites and better control on landing manoeuvres. This could eventually result in improved reliability for these operations.

This presentation reviews the analysis of the various scenarios using optical correlations in landing applications. In the landing scenario, the correlation is used mainly to estimate velocity and position of the lander in order to safely reach the ground. In the identification of landing site scenario a spacecraft in orbit uses correlation to identify and locate features on the planet surface. For a spacecraft in orbit, the planetary surface features could be further used for attitude control.

Correlation tests were performed on a packaged optical correlator using images gathered from various past planetary missions. Processing speed scenarios were based on past mission landing data. The various tests performed showed that correlation peaks, corresponding to the identification and pointing a target location, can be obtained when comparing real images with reference templates. This was also shown when reference templates where previously acquired. Also, analysis of the landing steps suggest that optical correlation could provide enough processing capabilities to provide real-time feedback to a landing vehicle. The various scenarios, analysis and results will be presented.

Abstract document

IAC-06-D2.6.09.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-D2.6.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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