Optoelectronic image processing system for satellite landmark navigation

Information system determining the satellite navigation parameters on the base of landmark image processing is considered. The concept of the optoelectronic navigation is based on the onboard optical correlator application for real time matching of the Earth images and prerecorded images of landmarks with known coordinates. The system is suitable for the low-orbit Earth imaging missions with 3-axis attitude stabilization and can be used for backup landmark navigation, precision pointing of the imaging payload and for onboard georeferencing of the obtained images. Mathematical model of the optoelectronic landmark navigation is considered. Compact optics design, the software and hardware models of the joint transform optical correlator have been developed. Experimental results obtained by using the image processing system are represented. The effects of the current image distortions on correlator performance were investigated. In the series of simulated experiments the accuracy of images matching was estimated in presence of image distortions and noise typical for high resolution Earth observation mission. The possibility to obtain the sub-pixel accuracy of images matching in real conditions under noisy environment is shown.