Space Entertainment Broadcasting Equipment

Abstract

To solve a problem that it costs a great deal of money to move a novel technology to space and make a chance for demonstration and experiment for establishing peripheral technologies required for employment, and although there is a method of obtaining funds by making the demonstration and experiment itself be entertainment that people view as a method of coping with the cost thereof, photographing a small satellite from the ground is difficult.SOLUTION: On the basis of a position of a satellite as a subject calculated by a GPS receiver mounted in the satellite, a position calculated by a GPS receiver mounted in a satellite for photographing mounted with a camera, and a posture direction of the satellite for photographing obtained by a star tracker mounted in the satellite for photographing, a video of a designated satellite is made available at any time by photographing the satellite as the subject while controlling an orientation of the mounted camera or an orientation of the satellite for photographing, and transmitting the video to the ground.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a broadcasting device for entertainment in outer space. [Background technology]

[0002] Until now, technological development for space development has been led by the government, but in recent years, small, stimulating businesses have also begun to develop technologies useful for space development. However, to demonstrate their usefulness, they need to launch them into space and demonstrate them, and to do so, they must have all the peripheral technologies, from orbital insertion to movement and control in space, power generation, heat dissipation, and communications. If they cannot do this, there is a risk that useful, excellent technologies will remain hidden and remain hidden from the public.

[0003] One solution to this problem is to create opportunities for demonstration experiments to establish the peripheral technologies necessary to transport and operate new technologies in space, but this requires a lot of money. One way to raise these costs is to turn the demonstration experiments themselves into entertainment and raise funds by having people watch them, but it is difficult to photograph small satellites from the ground.

[0004] In order to make the demonstration test entertaining and have people watch it, it would need to be a contest or race involving multiple satellites, with a system in place to capture footage of each satellite's unique technology being used in space and transmit it to Earth.

[0005] Additionally, a device is needed that can provide real-time information on where each satellite is moving during the race.

[0006] Furthermore, an effective way to raise funds is for viewers to make donations during the race to the companies that developed the satellites they are supporting. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The problem to be solved is to photograph specific satellites moving in space, to display the location of at least one specific satellite in a timely manner, and to make a donation to the satellite developer while the satellite is moving in space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In this invention, the position of the subject satellite calculated by a GPS receiver mounted on the satellite is transmitted to a photographing satellite equipped with a camera, and the direction of the camera or the orientation of the photographing satellite is controlled based on the position calculated by the GPS receiver mounted on the photographing satellite, the position of the subject satellite, and the attitude direction of the photographing satellite obtained by a star tracker mounted on the photographing satellite, to photograph the subject satellite and transmit the image to the ground, thereby always being able to obtain images of a specific satellite.

[0009] Furthermore, by publishing the positions of at least one or more satellites of the subject on a specific site on the Internet, it is possible to expect an effect of increasing the number of views of that site.

[0010] Furthermore, by providing the specific sites with buttons for making donations to the developers of each satellite and buttons for deciding the amount of donation, it is expected that development funds will be easily obtained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The space entertainment relay device of the present invention has the advantage that it can always obtain images of a specific satellite by transmitting the position of the subject satellite calculated by a GPS receiver mounted on the satellite to a photographing satellite equipped with a camera, and controlling the direction of the camera or the orientation of the photographing satellite based on the position calculated by the GPS receiver mounted on the photographing satellite, the position of the subject satellite, and the attitude direction of the photographing satellite obtained by a star tracker mounted on the photographing satellite to photograph the subject satellite, and transmitting the images to the ground via a relay satellite, etc.

[0012] Furthermore, by publishing the positions of at least one or more subject satellites on a specific site on the Internet, it is expected that the number of views of the site will increase, and by providing the site with buttons for making donations or investments to the developers of each subject satellite and buttons for deciding the amount of donation or investment, it is expected that development funds will be easily obtained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a space entertainment relay device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the space entertainment relay device during shooting. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a display of an embodiment of a space entertainment relay device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another representation of an embodiment of a space entertainment relay device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The objective of photographing a specific satellite moving through space was achieved by pointing the camera toward the specific satellite using a GPS receiver mounted on the specific satellite, and a GPS receiver and star tracker mounted on the satellite used for photographing. The objective of easily obtaining development funds was also achieved by publishing the satellite's position on a specific website on the Internet to receive advertising fees, and by providing buttons for making donations and investments to the satellite's developers, as well as buttons for deciding the amount of donations and investments. [Example]

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image-taking satellite according to an embodiment of the present invention. 100 is the space station, 110 is the first competition satellite, 111 is the second competition satellite, 112 is the third competitive satellite, 121 is the first target satellite, 122 is the second target satellite, 131 is the first imaging satellite, 132 is the second imaging satellite, 133 is the third imaging satellite, is.

[0016] The first competition satellite 110, the second competition satellite 111, and the third competition satellite 112 were designed and manufactured by each participating company, and are equipped with standard equipment provided or sold by the competition organizer in addition to equipment developed by the companies. In this way, by sharing the design work, the companies can more quickly demonstrate the technologies they have developed in space.

[0017] The space station 100 is capable of transporting supplies from Earth via space transport vehicles, communicating with the ground, storing competition satellites transported by the space transport vehicles, and releasing them into space.

[0018] The first target satellite 121 and the second target satellite 122 determine the course along which the preceding competition satellites 110-112 must pass, and also carry the tasks that the competition satellites must perform. In this embodiment, the first target satellite 121 is equipped with a QR code display board. The second target satellite 122 is equipped with buttons with numbers printed on them. (QR Code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Inc.)

[0019] The first, second, and third photographing satellites 131, 132, and 133 are either positioned on the course of the competition in advance or move along with the competition satellites. The photographing satellites are equipped with cameras mounted on gimbals, and the camera's direction can be freely changed. The captured video is temporarily recorded in a data recorder on the photographing satellite and then sent to the ISS via a wireless link. This allows high-resolution video with a large data capacity to be sent slowly over a low-capacity wireless link.

[0020] Each competing satellite 110-112 departs space station 100 at the same time and travels toward the first target satellite.

[0021] When each competition satellite approaches the first target satellite 121 and the second target satellite 122, it reads the QR code displayed on each target satellite, and is deemed to have passed the designated location on the course. In this case, each competition satellite transmits the number on the read QR code to the ground via the ISS, where it is compared with a predetermined number and deemed to have passed if it is confirmed that the number matches.

[0022] Alternatively, each competition satellite receives a weak radio wave emitted from the target satellite, decodes it, and transmits the resulting number to the ground via the ISS, where it is compared with a predetermined number and confirmed to have passed.

[0023] Alternatively, each target satellite receives a weak radio wave emitted from each competition satellite, decodes the resulting number, and compares it with a number predetermined for each competition satellite by the ISS. If the numbers match, the target satellite is equipped with a display that displays the number and name of the passing competition satellite at the same time as the passing, so that each competition satellite can know that its passage has been confirmed.

[0024] The competition satellite that clears the challenges of the first target satellite 121 and the second target satellite 122 returns to the space station 100 and reaches the goal.

[0025] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention during photography, 100 is the space station, 110 is the first competition satellite, 131 is the first imaging satellite, 201 is a camera, 202 is a star tracker, 210 is the first star, 211 is the second star, 220 is the position information of the first competition satellite, 221 is the position information of the first competition satellite, 230 is the camera's field of view, is.

[0026] In this embodiment, the photographing will be explained using the case where the first photographing satellite 131 photographs the first competition satellite 110.

[0027] Both the first competition satellite 110 and the first photographing satellite 131 are equipped with GPS receivers, allowing them to know their own positions. The first competition satellite 110 transmits its own position information 220 to the space station 100. The space station 100 then transmits the first competition satellite's position information 221 to the first photographing satellite 131. The first photographing satellite 131 knows its own position using the onboard GPS signal receiver, so it can know the direction in which the first competition satellite 110 is located. However, this alone is not enough to point the camera 201 toward the first competition satellite. This is because it is necessary to know the direction in which the first photographing satellite 131 is facing. The first photographing satellite 131 is equipped with a star tracker 202, which allows it to know the direction in which it is facing, i.e., it can know which direction to point the camera relative to its own satellite in order to face the first competition satellite 110.

[0028] The camera 201 is mounted on the first photographing satellite 131 via a gimbal, so it can be directed toward the first competition satellite 110 without having to move the first photographing satellite 131.

[0029] In this way, the first photographing satellite 131 can know the position of the target to be photographed, its own position, and the direction it is facing, and therefore can point the camera 201 in the direction of the satellite to be photographed.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device of the present invention; 300 is the viewer's computer, 310 is a web browser, 311 and 312 are web page tabs 320 is a live image, 331 is the space station, 332 is the first competitive satellite, 333 is the second competitive satellite, 340 is advertising, is.

[0031] When a web browser 310 on a viewer's computer 300 is connected to a site provided by the present invention, a tag called Data 311 and a tag called Movie 312 are displayed. The tag called Movie 312 displays an image 320 from a first photographing satellite, which shows a space station 331, a first competition satellite 332, and a second competition satellite 333. An advertisement 340 is also displayed next to the broadcast image.

[0032] In this way, viewers can watch the competition at any time, and the organizers of the competition can earn advertising revenue.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another representation of an embodiment of the device of the present invention; 300 is the viewer's computer, 310 is a web browser, 311 and 312 are web page tabs 410 is a web browser, 411 is the symbol for the space station, 412 is the mark indicating the first target satellite, 413 is the mark indicating the second target satellite, 414 is the flight path of the first competition satellite, 415 is the flight path of the second competition satellite, 416 is the flight path of the third competition satellite, 417 is the mark for the first imaging satellite, 418 is the mark for the second imaging satellite, 419 is the mark indicating the third imaging satellite, 420 is a photo of the first competition satellite, 421 is a photo of the second competition satellite, 422 is a photo of the third competition satellite, 430 is the donation button for the third competitive satellite, 431 is the donation amount setting button, 440 is advertising, is.

[0034] When a web browser 310 on a viewer's computer 300 is connected to a site provided by the present invention, a tag 311 called "Data" and a tag 312 called "Movie" are displayed. The tag 311 called "Data" shows a mark 411 indicating a space station, a mark 412 indicating a first target satellite, a mark 413 indicating a second target satellite, a flight path 414 of the first competition satellite, a flight path 415 of the second competition satellite, a flight path 416 of the third competition satellite, a mark 417 indicating a first photographing satellite, a mark 418 indicating a second photographing satellite, and a mark 419 indicating a third photographing satellite. Also displayed next to these are a photo 420 of the first competition satellite, a photo 421 of the second competition satellite, and a photo 422 of the third competition satellite. Near each of these photos, There are donation buttons for each competition satellite, and a donation button 430 for the third competition satellite is displayed near the photo of the third competition satellite 422. Also displayed are a donation amount setting button 431 and an advertisement 440.

[0035] This display allows viewers to know the flight path of each competition satellite so far and its current location. Also, by clicking on photos 420 to 422, viewers can view the performance and story of each competition satellite. By entering the amount they wish to donate to the developer of the third competition satellite in the donation amount setting button 431 and clicking the donation to the third competition satellite button 430, viewers can donate to the developer of the third competition satellite. Also, by placing advertisements 440, the organizers of the competition can earn advertising revenue. [Industrial Applicability]

[0036] By photographing specific satellites moving through space and displaying their locations in a timely manner, entertainment competitions can be held, and funds can be raised by viewers, which can then be returned to the companies that developed the satellites, making it easier for new companies to obtain funds for developing new technologies. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 Space Station 110 First Competition Satellite 111 Second Competition Satellite 112 Third Competition Satellite 121 First Target Satellite 122 Second Target Satellite 131 First Image Taking Satellite 132 Second imaging satellite 133 Third imaging satellite 201 Camera 202 Star Tracker 210 First Star 211 Second Star 220 Position information of the first competition satellite 221 Position information of the first competition satellite 230 Camera Field of View 300 Viewer's Computer 310 Web Browser 311, 312 Web page tabs 320 Live Images 331 Space Station 332 First Competition Satellite 333 Second Competition Satellite 340 Advertisements 410 Web Browser 411 Space Station symbol 412 Mark indicating the first target satellite 413 Second target satellite mark 414 First Competition Satellite Flight Path 415 Flight path of the second competition satellite 416 Flight path of the third competition satellite 417 Mark indicating the first imaging satellite 418 Mark indicating the second imaging satellite 419 Mark indicating the third imaging satellite 420 Photo of the first competition satellite 421 Photo of the second competition satellite 422 Photo of the third competition satellite 430 Third Competition Satellite Donation Button 431 Donation amount setting button 440 Advertisements

Claims

[Claim 1] A space entertainment relay device comprising a first artificial satellite equipped with a GPS receiver, and a second artificial satellite equipped with a camera, a GPS receiver, and a star tracker in outer space, which calculates the direction in which to point the camera from the position of the first artificial satellite obtained by the GPS receiver of the first artificial satellite and the position of the second artificial satellite obtained by the GPS receiver of the second artificial satellite, calculates the direction in which to point the camera mounted on the second artificial satellite toward the first artificial satellite from the attitude of the second artificial satellite obtained by the star tracker of the second artificial satellite, moves the camera of the second artificial satellite in that direction, and photographs the first artificial satellite from the second artificial satellite.

Images