Electro-Optical Image Analysis Using Diagonal Pixel Streaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electro-optical image processing algorithms for telescopes observing satellites are limited by their inability to process images rapidly enough for real-time feedback and require significant data transfer, leading to communication bottlenecks and reduced operational uptime.
Innovation Solution
An embedded algorithm using a field programmable array (FPGA) processor to analyze electro-optical imagery by selecting diagonal lines of pixels, applying a moving average filter, and cross-referencing with stellar catalogs to determine satellite location and brightness, reducing data volume and enabling real-time processing without saving raw pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional algorithms postprocess entire images, then measurement precision of satellite location and brightness is improved, but processing speed deteriorates and real-time feedback is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by identifying and processing only the stellar streaks rather than analyzing the entire image. The algorithm divides the field of view into regions containing stellar streaks and processes these segmented portions to extract satellite information, thereby reducing computational load while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for satellite tracking by isolating stellar streaks from the full image data. By taking out and processing only the streak-containing regions rather than the complete image, the system achieves real-time processing speeds while preserving the measurement capabilities needed for satellite location and brightness determination.
2Loss of information
If entire images are transferred for postprocessing, then complete image data is available for analysis, but data transfer time increases and operational uptime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary stellar streak information from the full image data before transfer. By removing unnecessary pixels and retaining only the streak-containing regions, the system minimizes data transfer time and bandwidth requirements while preserving the essential information needed for satellite tracking and measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards redundant image data that does not contain stellar streaks or satellite information, transferring only the essential streak regions. This selective discarding of unnecessary data reduces transfer time and bandwidth consumption, while the recovered essential information maintains complete analytical capability for satellite observation.
3Quantity of substance
If data is transferred over network at high rates, then complete image data reaches processing location, but network bandwidth is exceeded and communication bottleneck occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transfers only the stellar streak regions rather than complete high-resolution images. This extraction reduces the data volume by several orders of magnitude, allowing the system to operate within available network bandwidth constraints while maintaining full operational capability for satellite tracking and measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data representation parameters by converting full images into compressed streak-only formats. This parameter transformation reduces data volume from gigabytes to kilobytes per frame, enabling continuous operation without communication bottlenecks while preserving all necessary information for satellite analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
Analyzing electro-optical imagery from a telescope observing one or more satellites includes capturing one or more images of a plurality of stars and the one or more satellites, and sequentially or randomly selecting each one of a plurality of diagonal lines of pixels in the one or more images. The plurality of diagonal lines of pixels represent one of the plurality of stars in the one or more images. Additionally, a moving average filter is applied to the selected one of the plurality of diagonal lines of pixels to find a location of one of the plurality of start on an x- and y-axis coordinate. Furthermore, the location of the one of the plurality of stars is provided in the one or more captured images to be cross referenced with angular coordinates and radiometric quantities in stellar catalogs.