Systems, devices, and methods for space security

Abstract

Provided is an infrared (IR) guarding system (102) for guarding an asset (104) from a threat (106). The IR guarding system includes an IR camera for sensing IR signals from the threat, a laser for emitting laser light to dazzle the threat, and a steering mechanism that simultaneously steers the IR camera and the laser. Provided is a guarding system for defending an asset from a threat. The guarding system includes an infrared (IR) camera to detect the threat, a light detection and ranging device (lidar) having the same optical path as the IR camera, and steered mirrors for steering the IR camera.

Description

SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR SPACE SECURITYTechnical Field

[0001] The following relates generally to space security, and more particularly to systems and methods for sensing and countering space threats.Introduction

[0002] Nefarious actors have demonstrated a capability and will to target satellites. The attack vectors demonstrated include passive surveillance, optical and radiofrequency (RF) jamming, and anti-satellite (ASAT) missile attacks from the ground and from geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) orbital platforms. Anti-satellite missile attacks have been demonstrated recently in low earth orbit (LEO) and GEO orbits. Nefarious actors may have a satellite with a robot arm with hostile intentions. Space is a contested domain, and satellites may need to be able to defend themselves. Satellites may need to be defended in order to provide assured operation when and where needed.

[0003] While certain attacks have been overt, with no effort to conceal the perpetrator, some concealment capabilities may be deployed, including launching rogue satellites in contravention of space access policies, obfuscating ownership, command and control lines by means of proxy companies, and disguising active satellites as space debris.

[0004] Satellites may play a central role in supporting defense systems and military operations. They are force multipliers: critical to planning, oversight, communications and navigation. Space assets are deeply embedded in the economy, and their continuous operation ensures the provision of basic goods and services. However these assets are big, vulnerable, and because they have so far operated continuously, there may be complacency in their availability.

[0005] Space systems may be subject to numerous other threats and hazards. These include collisions with space debris and the rising threat of anti-satellite weapons.

[0006] Of note is the reduced barriers of access to space and the corresponding difficulties in tracking threats, and tracing their origin for purposes of allocating responsibility. For example, a cube-sat can now be launched more economically, andcube-sats may be launched into geosynchronous orbits, where military satellite communication satellites may be located. Critical satellites may now need to be designed to be responsible for their own situational awareness and defense, able to monitor potential threats in real-time, and respond accordingly.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method for enhancing space security that overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of existing systems and methods.Summary

[0008] Provided is an infrared (IR) guarding system for guarding an asset from a threat. The IR guarding system includes an IR camera for sensing IR signals from the threat, a laser for emitting laser light to dazzle the threat, and a steering mechanism that simultaneously steers the IR camera and the laser.

[0009] The IR camera, laser, and steering mechanism may be located on a guard satellite.

[0010] The IR camera, laser, and steering mechanism may be located onboard the asset.

[0011] The laser may be a high peak-power laser that is optimized for dazzling cameras at long range.

[0012] The steering mechanism may include a mirror which reflects both the IR signals and the laser light, and a mirror motor to pivot the mirror to steer the IR signals sensed by the IR camera and the laser light emitted by the laser.

[0013] The IR system may further include a base motor that rotates IR camera, and the laser with respect to a satellite 360 degrees.

[0014] The IR system may use a dual-axis fast scanning mirror in order to reflect both the IR signals and the laser light. The laser light may be reflected off of a small rightangle mirror in the centre of the IR camera lens in order to ensure the laser light is centred on and coaxial with the IR image.

[0015] The IR system may further include an onboard computer system for processing the I signals, the laser emitting, and the steering thereof.

[0016] The threat may be an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile.

[0017] The asset may be a satellite in one of low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO), or sun-synchronous orbit.

[0018] The laser may operate in the near infrared (NIR) band to dazzle NIR sensors of the threat.

[0019] The laser may include a dual-band mode that can dazzle both NIR and visible sensors of the threat.

[0020] The laser light may be pulsed in order to dazzle or damage the ASAT guidance sensors.

[0021] The laser light may be modulated with a pattern designed to confuse the ASAT guidance sensors.

[0022] Provided is a guarding system for defending an asset from a threat. The guarding system includes an infrared (IR) camera to detect the threat, a light detection and ranging device (lidar) having the same optical path as the IR camera, and steered mirrors for steering the IR camera.

[0023] The IR camera may be a wide-angle IR camera that continuously monitors for threats based on any one or more of temperature, size and shape of the threat.

[0024] The IR camera may include an IR sensitive uncooled microbolometer and an athermal lens assembly. Data captured with the microbolometer may be used to form an image where brighter pixels correspond to a higher temperature of the threat.

[0025] The lidar may include a laser for emitting a laser pulse and a lidar detector to detect the laser pulse.

[0026] The steered mirrors may guide the lidar with the outputs from the IR camera to focus on the threat.

[0027] The lidar may provide measurement of range and velocity of the threat.

[0028] The laser may be directed into an optical, near-infrared, or heat seeking guidance sensor aperture of the threat in order to blind the threat.

[0029] The guarding system may further include a dichroic beam splitter that aligns the IR camera with the lidar.

[0030] The guarding system may be used in target detection for rendezvous and docking.

[0031] The guarding system may further include a series of static cameras that continuously monitor for the threat. The series of static cameras may be used to guide a steered guarding system.

[0032] Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification. In the drawings:

[0034] Figure 1A is a diagram of a system for addressing hostile threats, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0035] Figure 1 B is block diagram of a guard of the system of Figure 1 A;

[0036] Figures 2A and 2B are side and perspective views, respectively, of a guarding system, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0037] Figure 3 are graphs of threat trajectories, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0038] Figure 4 is a diagram of a guarding system, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0039] Figure 5A is block diagram of a system with separate optical paths;

[0040] Figure 5B is a block diagram of a system with combined optical paths, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0041] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a system for monitoring threats, in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0042] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a guarding system, in accordance with an embodiment.Detailed Description

[0043] Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of each claimed embodiment. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below.

[0044] One or more systems described herein may be implemented in computer programs executing on programmable computers, each comprising at least one processor, a data storage system (including volatile and non-volatile memory and / or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. For example, and without limitation, the programmable computer may be a programmable logic unit, a mainframe computer, server, and personal computer, cloud-based program or system, laptop, personal data assistance, cellular telephone, smartphone, or tablet device.

[0045] Each program is preferably implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming and / or scripting language to communicate with a computer system. However, the programs can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language. Each such computer program is preferably stored on a storage media or a device readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer for configuring and operating the computer when the storage media or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described herein.

[0046] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, avariety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

[0047] Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described (in the disclosure and I or in the claims) in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order that is practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

[0048] When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device I article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device I article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device I article may be used in place of the more than one device or article.

[0049] Referring to Figure 1 A, described therein is a system 100 for addressing the threats of a hostile space arena with a system of sensors and countermeasures.

[0050] The system 100 includes a guard 102 that protects an asset 104 that is to be protected from threats 106. The guard 102 may alert, protect and defend assets 104 in space, including satellites. The asset 104 may be a satellite in LEO, medium earth orbit (MEO), GEO, or sun-synchronous orbit, around the earth or another orbited body. The guard 102 may be a free-flying ‘bodyguard’ satellite that can detect incoming threats 106.

[0051] The threat 106 may be space debris. The threat 106 may be an ASAT missile. The threat 106 may be space based. The threat 106 includes devices for impacting the operation of the asset 104.

[0052] The guard 102 is free-flying and may be placed ahead of the asset 104 so that the asset 104 satellite under protection has time to respond to the threat 106. The guard 102 may be redeployed to protect alternative assets 110. The guard 102 may be placed in orbit after the asset 104 satellite has been deployed. The guard 102 includesresponse devices 112 that respond to the threat 106. The response devices 112 may include lasers 116 that dazzle optical tracking sensors of the threat 106. The response devices 112 include any one or more of avoidance maneouvers, RF jamming, optical jamming, transmission of characteristics and trajectory of the threat 106 so as to determine origin.

[0053] The laser light 116 may be pulsed in order to dazzle or damage the ASAT guidance sensors of the threat 106. The laser light 116 may be modulated with a pattern designed to confuse the ASAT guidance sensors of the threat 106.

[0054] The guard 102 may be a free-flying defender of the asset 104. The guard 102 may be a separate satellite that flies in formation with the asset 104. The free-flying guard 102 may advantageously have any one or more of: longer warning times, decoy capability, being deployed after the asset has been launched, being redeployed to protect other assets, and include a secondary payload.

[0055] In an alternative, the guard 102 may be onboard and attached to the asset 104 in an onboard guard combined system 103. The onboard guard 102 may be a small form-factor bolt-on attachment to a standard satellite bus design on the asset 104 prior to launch of the asset 104. The onboard guard combined system 103 may advantageously have any one or more of small form-factor, lower cost and easy integration, easier and simpler to operation, and being widely integrated into planned systems as a hosted payload on the asset 104.

[0056] With reference to Figure 1 B, the guard 102 includes missile detection, classification and dazzling capabilities. The guard 102 includes technologies to provide local situational awareness in the vicinity of key assets.

[0057] The guard 102 includes high-speed ASAT missile threat detection, classification and dazzling capabilities. The guard 102 detects the threat 106. The guard 102 classifies the threat 106. The guard 102 defends the asset 104 from the threat 106. The guard 102 may deploy technology used to protect aircraft and ships from missiles. This guard 102 may be optimized to defend satellites assets 102 from missile attack threats 106.

[0058] The guard 102 includes an infra-red (IR) camera or sensor 108 to detect the threat 106. The I camera 108 may be a high-speed infra-red camera 108. The IR camera 108 detects the high temperatures of the threat 106, such as the higher temperature of the ASAT missile during approach.

[0059] The IR camera 108 may be a longwave infrared camera. The high speed IR camera 108 for passive target detection and tracking may have an increase frame rate to for example, 120 frames per second (fps). The IR camera 108 may be an optical camera.

[0060] The guard 102 includes at least one laser 116 that is oriented by a steering mechanism 118. The guard 102 detects the threat 106 with the IR camera 108. The guard 102 tracks the threat 106 with the IR camera 108 and steering mechanism 118. The laser and steering mechanism 118 may form a laser interdiction tracking system.

[0061] The guard 102 dazzles the threat 106 with the laser 116. The guard 102 includes any one or more sensors (e.g., IR camera 108) for detecting and identifying the threat 106, including the source of lasers on the threat that may dazzle the asset 102. The sensor may be a smaller pitch bolometer.

[0062] The guard 102 includes a processor 122 that provides for any more of attribution of the threat 106, advanced warning of the threat 106, tracking of the threat 106, and defensive countermeasures and offensive optical jamming by the response devices 122. The processor 112 may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA) onboard the guard 102. The guard 102 may store the data in a memory 124 for characterizing the behavior, capabilities and origin of the approaching threats 106. The processor 122 determines countermeasures to trigger to protect the asset 104 in time to neutralize the threat 106.

[0063] The guard 102 may provide evidence required to determine reliable attribution and avoid misunderstandings. The guard 102 may provide hi-fidelity information to enable commanders in the decision-making chain to make informed and robust decisions. The guard 102 may provide a credible response to threats posed by the hostile capabilities.

[0064] Current space systems may not defend against ASAT missiles, and hostile proximity operations satellites. Current space systems are limited in defending against threats because of concerns that are no longer credible including the historic difficulty in launching an ASAT missile covertly, where perpetrators will be identified and open to retaliation. Further, an ASAT missile strike produces large quantities of space-debris which may have been difficult to control or predict, and may damage other satellites, including those of the perpetrators. However, these concerns can no longer be relied upon.

[0065] Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an IR guarding system 200 for guarding an asset (e.g., asset 104), in accordance with an embodiment. The IR guarding system 200 may be located on a guard satellite (e.g., guard 102). The IR guarding system 200 may be located onboard a combined system of the guard and the asset (e.g., onboard combined system 103).

[0066] The IR guarding system 200 includes an IR camera 202 (e.g., IR camera 108) for sensing IR signals from a threat. The IR guarding system 200 includes a laser 204 (e.g., laser 116) for emitting laser light to dazzle the threat. The laser 204 may be a smaller, higher peak-power laser that is optimized for dazzling cameras at long range.

[0067] The IR guarding system 200 includes a steering mechanism 206 that simultaneously steers the IR camera 202 and the laser 204. The steering mechanism 206 includes a mirror 208 which reflects both the IR signals and the laser light. The steering mechanism 206 includes a mirror motor 210 to pivot the mirror about axis 212, to steer the IR signals sensed by the IR camera 202 and the laser light emitted by the laser 204. The mirror motor 210 pivots the mirror about the axis 212 by 90 degrees.

[0068] The IR camera 202 and the laser 204 are attached to a base 214. The steering mechanism 206 may also be attached to the base 214. The base 214 is mounted on a base motor 216 that steers the IR camera 202 and the laser 204. The base motor 206 may be a 360 degree frameless motor. The base motor 206 rotates the base 214 with respect to a guard attachment 218. The guard attachment 218 may attach to a guard satellite (e.g., guard 102) or directly to an asset satellite (e.g., asset 104).

[0069] The IR camera 204 has a 360 degree by 90 degree field of view (FOV), which may cover a hemisphere of the earth.

[0070] The IR guarding system 200 combines the operating field of view of the IR camera 202 with the laser 204 so that both are simultaneously steered by the steering mechanism 206.

[0071] The IR guarding system 200 manages the trade offs of a passive IR camera; a wide-angle IR camera can monitor much more space for potential threats but may not be able to detect them at sufficient distance to be able to respond. Whereas a narrowangle camera can detect the threat from further away but cannot monitor the same wide space for threats.

[0072] The IR guarding system 200 includes an onboard computer system 220 (e.g., processor 122 and memory 124), for processing the IR signals, the laser emitting, and the steering thereof by the motors 212, 216.

[0073] The IR guarding system 200 may advantageously remove the calibration and alignment of separate camera and laser systems. The IR guarding system 200 may advantageously overcome the issues with separated optical systems that may be prone to thermal distortion. The IR guarding system 200 may advantageously address the parallax error created by using separate sources, ensuring correct targeting during the final stages of approach. The IR guarding system 200 may advantageously be more compact. The IR guarding system 200 may advantageously simplify the tracking algorithms for detecting, tracking, and targeting an approaching threat.

[0074] The IR guarding system 200 may advantageously address challenges in the application space domain. For example, the approach velocities of ASAT missiles are considerably higher (up to 15km / s) than that of anti-aircraft missiles (up to 2km / s), the ASAT approach vectors are more predictable, and the platform manoeuvrability is much more limited than in terrestrial domains.

[0075] The onboard computer 220 may include technology and techniques to characterise potential threat systems. The IR camera 202 may be always-watching low power sensor capable of autonomously detecting threats from long range. Subsequentvideo imagery saved to the onboard computer 220 can be used to determine the relative orbit of the threat, capture evidence of active manoeuvring, and warn if it is on a collision heading.

[0076] Figure 3 illustrates graphs 300 that shows trajectories of a threat (e.g., threat 106). The graph 200 includes the different trajectories 302, 304, 306 and the range 308 of terminal phase interception angles that a ground-launched ASAT missile can take in order to intercept with a spacecraft in LEO. Orbital rendezvous and docking, of which an ASAT missile attack can be modelled as, follows the V-bar or R-bar approach trajectories 302, 304, 306.

[0077] The trajectories 302, 304, 306 follow predictable paths that are optimized to achieve reliable tracking and rendezvous solutions with minimal risk. As such, the IR camera 108 that has a narrow-angle and wide steering platform combined with the intelligence from the processor 122 as to where a threat might originate from, may cover most threats.

[0078] Referring again to Figures 1A and 1 B, the threat 106 may include on-board sensors and tracking algorithms in order to achieve a successful intercept. Since space is huge, satellites are relatively small, the ability to accurately track the threats from the ground may be limited. Onboard tracking by the guard 102 closes this error gap to perform an accurate terminal phase interception.

[0079] The laser 116 may operate in the NIR band, so may be ideal for dazzling the NIR sensors of the threat. The laser 116 may include a dual-band mode that can dazzle both NIR and visible sensors.

[0080] The laser 116 may include a high-power laser rangefinder. The laser 116 may be powerful enough to dazzle cameras on the threat 106 at ranges > 25km. The laser 116 may be a high peak power laser having, for example a 1 .2MW peak power NIR laser. The laser 116 may be powerful enough to damage cameras on the threat 106 at shorter ranges.

[0081] Turning now to Figure 4, illustrated therein is a guarding system 400 for defending an asset (e.g., asset 104) from a threat (e.g., threat 106), in accordance withan embodiment. The guarding system 400 may also be used for high-speed target detection for rendezvous and docking.

[0082] The guarding system 400 includes an IR camera 402. The I camera 402 may be a wide-angle IR camera. The IR camera 402 may continuously monitor and look for threats (e.g., threats 106). The IR camera 402 may detect and track potential threats to critical space assets. The IR wide-angle camera 402 has the advantage of being passive and low-power for continuous, 'always-on' threat monitoring, as well as the fact that any threats will vividly show up against the cold background of space.

[0083] Where the threat is passive orbital-debris that is warmed by the sun, active threats will be warmed from internal electronics, from propellant and from friction due to leaving the atmosphere. Due to the cold background of space, each of these threats will show up and be detected by the IR camera. The longwave IR camera 402 may be the most appropriate for space area defense. The IR camera 402 alone may characterize threats based on the temperature, size and shape of the threats. The IR camera 402 may perform bearings-only tracking.

[0084] The IR camera 402 may include an IR sensitive uncooled microbolometer and an athermal lens assembly. The data captured with the bolometer is used to form an image where the brighter pixels correspond to a higher temperature of the threat.

[0085] The defense system 400 includes a plurality of steered mirrors 404. The steered mirrors 404 steer the field of view of the IR camera 402, thereby enlarging the field of view of the IR camera 402. The steered mirrors 404 enable a scan and search capability. The steered mirrors 404 are steered with motors 405a, 405b.

[0086] The guarding system 400 includes a light detection and ranging device (lidar) 406 that includes a laser 408 and lidar detector 410. The lidar 406 may be a laser range-finder combined with the steered mirrors 404. Un-directed, a lidar may take a long time to find a small target in a large area. By guiding the lidar 406 with the outputs from the IR camera 402, the lidar 404 rapidly focuses on potential threats. The lidar 406 may provide detailed 3D scans of the incoming threat. The lidar 406 may provide measurements of range and velocity of the threat.

[0087] The lidar 406 may provide for spacecraft hazard detection and in-orbit rendezvous and docking missions. The lidar 406 works using the principle of time-of- flight, which is a way of precisely recording the time it takes for a pulse of laser light to leave the system 400, bounce off the target, and come back.

[0088] The lidar 406 shares the same optical path as the IR camera 402. This means the lidar 406 can be actively and rapidly directed by the IR camera 402 to detect, track and scan potential targets.

[0089] Integrating the two optical paths into a single sensor with a combined optical path is non-trivial. In terms of performance, care must be taken to ensure chromatic distortion in the optical path is minimized and that the signal strength for the lidar time-of- flight sensor 410 is maximized. In terms of survival and continuous operation, the extreme thermal variation within the space environment should not significantly distort or impede the operation of either sensor.

[0090] The guarding system 400 may include any one or more of beam splitters or partially reflective mirrors, a custom prism designed to split the receive beam according to wavelength (with subsequent corrective optics), or a rapidly switching micro- electromechanical (MEMS) mirror that can oscillate between the two sensors, alternately directing light on one then the other.

[0091] The guarding system 400 may include sufficient optical power for both the lidar rangefinder 406 and the IR camera 402. The guarding system 400 may include wavelength multiplexing or MEMS switching technologies. The use of anti-reflective internal coatings may be used to minimise the risk of the laser 408 inadvertently blinding or damaging the IR camera 402 by the internal reflections.

[0092] The guarding system 400 may also include suitable software for target detection, tracking, characterization and optical jamming against different threat scenarios.

[0093] The guarding system 400 includes the ability to direct the laser 408 and its laser beam 414 into an aperture of an optical, near-infrared, or heat-seeking guidance sensor on the threat in order to blind the threat. Where the threat is be detected far enoughaway, the laser 408 is shined into the aperture in order to blind the threat, whilst the asset manoeuvres away. The guarding system 400 includes optical jamming capability using the laser 408, aimed with mirrors 404, and steered with the outputs from the IR camera 402.

[0094] The guarding system 400 includes the combination of the long-wave infrared camera 402 and the lidar 406 in a boresight aligned configuration by a dichroic beam splitter 412. Wherever the IR camera 402 is looking (center of image) is where the laser 408 is targeted.

[0095] The guarding system 400 may include the following advantages: when scanning a large FOV for a small target, a lidar 406 is slow - this is because the beam divergence of the laser is a tiny fraction of the FOV being scanned. Instead, the IR camera 402 can be used to rapidly ‘guide’ the lidar 406 to focus on a particular region. The lidar 406 can be used as a steerable optical jamming laser 406 that is tracked onto a target by the IR camera 402.

[0096] Any parallax error (or misalignment errors due to thermal effects) introduced by having separate camera 402 and laser 408 sources is removed. The camera 402 field- of-view is enlarged by having it behind the set of steerable mirrors 404.

[0097] A long-wave infrared camera 402 may be advantageous for its large spectrum separation from the lidar NIR wavelengths, so as to enable improved dichroic beam splitters 412.

[0098] By placing the camera lens 402 behind the same scanning mirror(s) 404 used to steer the laser 408, the effective FOV of the camera 402 is enlarged, the parallax errors created by separating the camera 402 from the laser 507 may be removed, and the calibration errors (e.g. due to thermal effects) that will affect the relative alignment of the laser 408 and the camera 402 may be removed.

[0099] Where the laser 408 is used as part of a lidar, the defense system 400 enables the lidar 406 to rapidly focus on a target instead of blindly searching for the target.

[0100] The guarding system 400 integrates a wide-angle IR camera 402, a mirrorsteering capability 404 and the laser 408 with time-of-flight measurement to the laserdetector 410 into a single, compact, low power package designed for continuous wide- area defense. The guarding system 400 may defend critical spacecraft against in-orbit threats. The threats include orbital-debris and ASAT attacks.

[0101] The guarding system 400 may rapidly detect and identify nearby threats, rapidly and repeatedly scanning those threats with the lidar 406, and pointing the lidar laser 408 directly into any heat-seeking sensor apertures, thus providing a false signal and jamming the system of the threats.

[0102] The guarding system 400 measures the information for characterizing and identifying the target - such as location, speed, trajectory, temperature and shape.

[0103] The guarding system 400 may be a compact system that can be attached to a satellite.

[0104] The guarding system 400 may be small and lightweight (<1 L, 10kg) and can be left continuously monitoring its surroundings on a low-power budget. The guarding system 400 may have a wide angle field-of-view providing a large area defence capability.

[0105] In certain cases, the guarding system 400 may work with other guarding systems 400 to achieve total coverage and to cover different sides of the satellite.

[0106] The guarding system 400 may operate in the harsh radiation and thermal environments over extended operational lifetimes.

[0107] Figure 5A illustrates a system 500 where an IR camera 502 and a lidar 504 have separate optical paths (I camera optical path 506, lidar optical paths 508a, 508b, 508c). The separate optical paths 506, 508a, form two sides of a triangle with its apex at any one or more targets 510a, 510b, 510c. It is necessary to know how far away the targets 510a, 510b, 510c are so that the apex of the triangle intersects with the target 510a, 510b, 510c. The IR camera 502 alone cannot measure how far away the target 510a, 510b, 510c is to enough accuracy to be able to point the laser 504 at the target 510a, 510b, 510c.

[0108] Figure 5B illustrates a system 550 (e.g., system 400) that combines the optical path 552 of the lidar and IR camera 554 to the target 556. By combining the pathsso that the triangle has a zero-length baseline the problem of system 500 is removed, as the laser of 554 will automatically be pointed wherever the IR camera 554 is looking.

[0109] Figure 6 illustrates a system 600 for monitoring threats, in accordance with an embodiment. The system 600 includes a series of static cameras 602a, 602b, 602c, to 602n. The static cameras 602a, 602b, 602c, 602n continuously monitor a wide field of view for threats. The static cameras 602a, 602b, 602c, 602n are installed and oriented at different locations to cover approach vectors. The static cameras 602a, 602b, 602c, 602n are used to alert the guard system to the threat by communicating with an onboard computer 604.

[0110] The guarding system 100 of Figure 1A may be used in conjunction with the series of static cameras 602a, 602b, 602c, to 602n. The static cameras 602a, 602b, 602c, to 602n continuously monitor a wide space around the satellite for threats. The static cameras 602a, 602b, 602c, to 602n are then used to guide the steered guarding system to the target.

[0111] Figure 7 illustrates a system 700 for monitoring threats, in accordance with an embodiment. The system 700 includes a laser light source 702 that emits laser light 704. The laser light 704 reflects off of a right angle mirror 706 and on to a mirror 708 that is concentric with an infra-red imaging lens 710. The mirror 708 may be small relative to the infra-red imaging lens 710. The mirror 708 reflects laser light 712 onto a dual-axis fast pointing mirror 714. The dual-axis fast pointing mirror 714 directs the laser light 716 into the environment.

[0112] The laser light 716 is used to dazzle or damage the guidance sensor of inbound threats. The infra-red imaging signals 718 are reflected off of the dual-axis fast pointing mirror 714 and onto the infra-red imaging lens 710.

[0113] The dual-axis fast-pointing mirror 714 reflects both the laser light 712 and the infrared signals 718. The dual-axis fast-pointing mirror 714 is positioned in the center of the infra-red imaging lens 710. The dual-axis fast-pointing mirror 714 ensures the laser light 704 (generated by laser light source 702) is centered in the middle of an image of the infra-red imaging lens 710.

[0114] The laser light 704 is reflected off of the mirror 708 in the center of the infrared imaging lens 710 in order to ensure the laser light 712 is centered on and coaxial with the returned infrared signals 718.

[0115] While the above description provides examples of one or more apparatus, methods, or systems, it will be appreciated that other apparatus, methods, or systems may be within the scope of the claims as interpreted by one of skill in the art.

Claims

Claims:

1. An infrared (IR) guarding system for guarding an asset from a threat, the IR guarding system comprising: an IR camera for sensing IR signals from the threat; a laser for emitting laser light to dazzle the threat; and a steering mechanism that simultaneously steers the IR camera and the laser.

2. The IR system of claim 1 , wherein the IR camera, laser, and steering mechanism are located on a guard satellite or onboard the asset.

3. The IR system of claim 1 further comprising a dual-axis fast scanning mirror that reflects both the IR signals and the laser light.

4. The IR system of claim 1 , wherein the laser is a high peak-power laser that is optimized for dazzling cameras at long range.

5. The IR system of claim 1 , wherein the steering mechanism includes: a mirror which reflects both the IR signals and the laser light; and a mirror motor to pivot the mirror to steer the IR signals sensed by the IR camera and the laser light emitted by the laser.

6. The IR system of claim 1 further comprising a base motor that rotates IR camera, and the laser with respect to a satellite 360 degrees.

7. The IR system of claim 1 further comprising an onboard computer system for processing the IR signals, the laser emitting, and the steering thereof.

8. The IR system of claim 1 wherein the threat is an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile.

9. The I system of claim 1 wherein the asset is a satellite in one of low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO), or sun- synchronous orbit.

10. The IR system of claim 1 , wherein the laser operates in the near infrared (NIR) band to dazzle NIR sensors of the threat.

11. The IR system of claim 1 , wherein the laser includes a dual-band mode that can dazzle both NIR and visible sensors of the threat; or wherein the laser light is pulsed in order to dazzle or damage the ASAT guidance sensors; or wherein the laser light is modulated with a pattern designed to confuse ASAT guidance sensors.

12. A guarding system for defending an asset from a threat, the guarding system comprising: an infrared (IR) camera to detect the threat; a light detection and ranging device (lidar) having the same optical path as the IR camera; and steered mirrors for steering the IR camera.

13. The guarding system of claim 12, wherein the IR camera is a wide-angle IR camera that continuously monitors for threats based on any one or more of temperature, size and shape of the threat.

14. The guarding system of claim 12, wherein the IR camera includes an IR sensitive uncooled microbolometer and an athermal lens assembly, and wherein datacaptured with the microbolometer is used to form an image where brighter pixels correspond to a higher temperature of the threat.

15. The guarding system of claim 12, wherein the lidar includes a laser for emitting a laser pulse and a lidar detector to detect the laser pulse.

16. The guarding system of claim 15, wherein the steered mirrors guide the lidar with the outputs from the IR camera to focus on the threat.

17. The guarding system of claim 15, wherein the lidar provides measurement of range and velocity of the threat.

18. The guarding system of claim 15, wherein the laser is directed into an optical, nearinfrared, or heat seeking guidance sensor aperture of the threat in order to blind the threat.

19. The guarding system of claim 15 further comprising a dichroic beam splitter that aligns the IR camera with the lidar.

20. The guarding system of claim 15 used in target detection for rendezvous and docking.21 . The guarding system of claim 15, further comprising a series of static cameras that continuously monitor for the threat, and wherein the series of static cameras are used to guide a steered guarding system.

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