Space-Based Sensors with Solar Exclusion Baffles

ABSTRACT: The U.S. Air Force has a need to improve stray light rejection and reduce the solar exclusion angle for space-based optical sensors tasked with star tracking navigation and with detecting and tracking multiple satellites. The Spectral Imaging Laboratory (SPILAB) proposes the development of artificial compound eye (ACE)optics with an internal honeycomb louver baffle that can block stray radiation from bright sources such as the sun. ACE optics have the benefit of generating high resolution, distortion free images that have uniform intensity across the field. SPILAB will design a wide field-of-view (WFOV-ACE) camera for full awareness, near field tracking and a high resolution (HR-ACE) camera for star tracking navigation and long range target tracking. BENEFIT: Will provide the military with systems that are highly relevant to Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA). Commercial applications include star tracking navigation within view of the sun, airborne surveillance requiring shielding from bright sources, and machine vision for manufacturing, robotics, and vehicle situational awareness/safety systems.