Preserving dark skies with neuromorphic camera technology

利用神经形态相机技术保护黑暗天空

• 批准号: ST/Y50998X/1
• 负责人: James Blake
• 金额: $ 46.63万
• 依托单位: University of Warwick
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FY50998X%2F1
• 关键词: Preserving; dark; skies; neuromorphic; camera

Satellite streak contamination is becoming increasingly prevalent in wide-field astronomical imaging, as constellations of satellites are beginning to take shape in low Earth orbit (LEO). The problem looks set to worsen, with tens of thousands of satellites due to launch over the coming decade. The typically large uncertainties in satellite trajectories, coupled with their fast angular motion across the sky, make it challenging to reliably predict if/when they will pass within the field of view of a telescope. With the constellations here to stay, astronomers are urgently in need of preventative measures.Neuromorphic (event-based) camera technology holds great promise for this area. Event-based cameras seek to replicate the functionality of the biological retina, efficiently registering only the meaningful information in a scene. They are capable of providing a near-continuous stream of information with much lower data rates than frame-based alternatives, both favourable characteristics for a rapid-response system.We aim to develop a dual-purpose instrument to benefit both the astronomy and space domain awareness (SDA) communities, utilising neuromorphic technology to:Detect satellites and supplement catalogues by refining existing (often out-of-date) orbital state information.Provide early warning of satellites on course to contaminate an astronomical field of interest.Capability (1) has significant commercial potential within the rapidly growing SDA market, highlighted in the National Space Strategy as an area in which the UK government has ambitions to establish global leadership. Existing surveillance networks are under immense strain due to the soaring population in LEO and there is a drive to develop new sovereign SDA sensors.The proposed project will explore the capabilities of neuromorphic cameras when applied to space surveillance. Specifically, we identify the following key objectives:Commissioning of a prototype instrument comprising a latest-generation neuromorphic camera and existing Warwick instrumentation at our campus observatory, and subsequently at our facilities in La Palma, Canary Islands.Development of software for data reduction, calibrations for brightness and position, satellite detection, and trajectory refinement, building from existing algorithms developed during the Project Lead's STFC-funded PhD studentship.Simulation of different sensor architectures to establish an optimal observational strategy for the early warning system, taking both the satellite contamination problem and requirements for SDA into consideration.Proof-of-concept study to validate the findings from the sensor architecture simulation with the prototype instrument, making use of catalogued information to assess the instrument's performance when faced with a variety of scenarios.

卫星条纹污染在宽视场天文成像中越来越普遍，因为卫星星座开始在低地球轨道（LEO）形成。随着未来十年将有数万颗卫星发射，这个问题看起来将进一步恶化。卫星轨道通常具有很大的不确定性，再加上它们在天空中的快速角运动，使得可靠地预测它们是否/何时会在望远镜的视场内通过具有挑战性。随着星座的存在，天文学家迫切需要采取预防措施。神经形态（基于事件）相机技术在这一领域有很大的前景。基于事件的相机试图复制生物视网膜的功能，有效地只记录场景中有意义的信息。它们能够以比基于帧的替代方案低得多的数据速率提供接近连续的信息流，这两个特性对于快速响应系统都是有利的。我们的目标是开发一种双重用途的仪器，以使天文学和空间域感知（SDA）社区受益，利用神经形态技术：探测卫星并通过改进现有的（通常是过时的）轨道状态信息。提供卫星在轨道上污染感兴趣的天文场的早期预警。在快速增长的SDA市场中具有巨大的商业潜力，在国家空间战略中强调，这是英国政府有雄心建立全球领导地位的一个领域。由于低地球轨道上的人口激增，现有的监测网络承受着巨大的压力，因此有必要开发新的主权SDA传感器。具体而言，我们确定了以下关键目标：在我们的校园天文台以及随后在加那利群岛的La Palma设施中调试了包括最新一代神经形态照相机和现有沃里克仪器的原型仪器。根据项目负责人在STFC资助的博士生期间开发的现有算法，开发了用于数据简化、亮度和位置校准、卫星检测和轨迹细化的软件。模拟不同的传感器架构，以建立预警系统的最佳观测策略。同时考虑卫星污染问题和SDA的要求。概念验证研究，以验证原型仪器传感器结构模拟的结果，利用编目信息来评估仪器在面对各种情况时的性能。