Transcript An Optical NanoSat Detection and Ranging System (SADARS)

An Optical NanoSat
Detection and Ranging
System (SADARS)
Maurisa Orona
Andrew Couch
Ed Wilson
Goal of Mission
 Create a satellite detection and ranging system
(SADARS) for a fleet of nano satellites
Mission Objectives
 Create an optical detection and communication
system using LED’s and photo detectors
 Develop a system of satellite identification and
ranging employing video cameras
Nano Satellite Model
Communication and Detection
 Serial Communications
 Send out two bytes
 First byte corresponds to
identify the satellite
 Second byte identifies
which side of the
satellite is being
detected
 Detectors
 PIN Photo Diode
Detectors
 Video Camera
Computer Resources
Intel NUC D54250WYK
 Intel® Rapid Start Technology
 4th generation Intel® Core™ i5-4250U processor
 Intel® Quick Sync Video for fast video encoding
 DisplayPort 1.2* for driving 4k displays.
 Four USB 3.0 ports
Overview of Optical Communications
 Optical communications using LED’s and diode lasers
are employed in many situations.
 Advantages
 Difficult to intercept optical systems by unauthorized agents
 Greater amount of information can be communicated that by
traditional radio methods
 Disadvantages
 Difficult to align the transmitters and receivers
 Fog, rain and aerosols cause degradation of the signal
Optical Communications Between
Satellites
 Advantages
 In low earth orbit (LEO) problems with aerosols, rain and fog are
minimal
 Difficulties
 Aligning the beams between moving satellites
Varied Approaches
 Optical communication could be established using LEDs, diode
lasers or other optical emitters
 Diode Lasers
 Produce more energy than LEDs but the beams are highly collimated
and therefore difficult to be detected by the optical receivers
 Other Optical Emitters
 Other optical transmitters can be employed but generally require
higher voltages and currents than LEDs and are still being considered
 LEDs
 Optical output is weaker than that of a diode laser, but they can be
purchased to emit over a wider solid angle and are therefore easier to
detect
LED Placements under Consideration
Geometric Pattern
Hemisphere
Satellite Ranging Study
Detection Capabilities at Varried Distances
1800
1600
1400
Pixelsd detected
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0
5
10
15
Distance (meters)
20
25
30
Ranging Data
 4 Meters
 28 Meters
Acknowledgements
 Arkansas Space Grant Consortium RID
 Dr. Adam Huang, PI, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
 Dr. Yupo Chan, University of Arkansas at Little Rock