Innovative Sensor Concepts



The SERC has participated in several sensor-based programs that have advanced the state of the art. Star trackers have been improved through the use of an innovative way of combining two separate orthogonal optical trains in one package and sharing one detector, providing simultaneous viewing of two star regions. Lost-in-space algorithms and other improvements have also been developed and packaged in commercial systems. Another sensor concept is the use of a smart sensor to process the location of light sources in an array for very precise positioning to support missions such as autonomous docking. Advancements have also been made, in collaboration with the Imaging Technology Space Center, in very high definition cameras to detect minute differences in structure surfaces with a variety of ground and space applications.

Controls and Autonomous Robotics

SERC expertise in this area, coupled with very innovative research out of Texas A&M makes this a particular Center strength. The STC has prototyped original sensor-based controls for autonomous docking to support space and other applications. It is collaborating with researchers at Texas A&M on innovative methods of station keeping and formation flying to compensate for hardware limitations for some space missions. And it is investigating the use of robotics and precise controls to assess satellite proximity maneuvering operations as an inexpensive alternative to on-orbit testing. SERC personnel have previous robotics and controls experience at other facilities such as Sandia National Labs.