Study on Thermal Deformation Measurement of Optical Remote Sensing Satellite Platform Based on Machine Vision

Jie Huang, Chaolan You, Peng Hou, Da Luo, Xiangsen Kong and Xin Fu

(1.Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering, Shanghai 201109, China;2.Shanghai Institute of Satellite Equipment, Shanghai 200240, China)

Abstract: To solve the special requirements of the high orbit optical remote sensing-satellite for the thermal deformation of the platform, the thermal deformation test and measurement scheme of the satellite platform is designed. Through the comparative analysis of test results, the rationality of the thermal deformation design of the platform structure is verified. The results of thermal deformation measurement show that the maximum deformation of A camera mounting surface is 57.5〃, and the maximum deformation of B camera mounting surface points to 79.3〃, which can be used as the basis for thermal deformation prediction of satellite during the orbit operation.

Keywords: remote sensing satellite; thermal deformation; meteorological satellite

1 Introduction

As an important component of our country in the field of satellite for weather forecast, land and water environment detection, disaster prevention and mitigation, and other fields, optical remote sensing satellite has made important contributions. With the continuous development of satellite technology in China, the detection range, resolution and stability of optical remote sensing satellite are more and more demanding[1]. To highly determine the location of each pixel of meteorological satellite, more accurate weather forecasts, the second generation of geostationary orbit meteorological satellite of China uses positioning and image registration techniques for the first time[2]. The thermal deformation factors in many factors are important ones affecting the accuracy of optical remote sensing satellites in orbit detection and image positioning and registration[3-4]. According to the actual research experience, the thermal deformation of the platform, the structure of the camera, the thermal deformation of the mechanism and the installation of thermal deformation of the star sensor are the main components[5-6]. The thermal deformation of the camera can be reduced by using the same material in designing scanning mirror and its shaft[7-8]. Thermal deformation and platform which involves many factors, through material feature matching, low expansion coefficient of carbon fiber materials using can reduce the influence of thermal deformation[9-10]. However, it is necessary to establish accurate ground simulation test to predict the magnitude and regularity of the thermal deformation of satellite platform in orbit[11]. In order to solve the special requirements of a high orbit optical remote sensing satellite for thermal deformation, more accurate thermal deformation of platform structure which causes two camera mounting surface to change, the relative orientation between the two camera mounting surfaces, and then extrapolation of satellite orbit thermal deformation rule, the thermal deformation test of satellite platform is designed. The test simulated the typical working condition of heat flux on the satellite platform, and tested the thermal deformation of two camera mounting surface using digital close range photo-grammetry technology. Based on the comparison and analysis of the thermal deformation measurement results of the platform and the results of simulation analysis, it provides a technical basis for the reasonable prediction of thermal deformation of orbit satellites.

2 Machine Vision Measurement System

2.1 Basic Principles of Machine Vision

Digital photogrammetry principle diagram as shown in Fig.1, the system includes a camera, directional stick, reference meter, signs and auxiliary measuring stick[12-13]. By two cameras in different locations on the same object to shoot, get the measured target more than two different angles of the photograph, which is founded on the body image. Set the object pointP(XiYiZi) is composed oficamera station (ilight) is the intersection, there areicollinear equation, as shown in Eq.(1)[14-15]:

(1)

(a)Two camera measurement system

(b) Multi-phase measurement geometry

Fig.1Digital close range photogrammetry principle diagram

By using the least squares principle, a plurality of light (beam) of the collinear equation (bundle adjustment), the space object point coordinates can be obtainedP(XiYiZi), as shown in Eq.(2).

(2)

where

is rotation matrix, (xyz)is the object point corresponding to a plane coordinate, (x0y0z0)is the center of the plane, and (ΔxΔyΔz)is plane center offset[16-17].

2.2 Light Spot Center Calculation

In order to accurately determine the camera mounting plane, the image processing is firstly processed, and the center of the punctuation is extracted. The algorithm is relatively mature in engineering[14, 18], the Eq.(3) is as follows:

(3)

where,f(i,j),xijandyijrepresent the intensity values ofpix(i,j) respectively,xandyare coordinates of the pixel center;Wnis the number of line pixel;Hnis the number of list pixel.

2.3 Calibration of the Visual System Based on Genetic Algorithm

In practical engineering application, due to the influence of environmental factors, there will be some deviation from the angle of installation and theoretical angle of the visual camera[19]. If it is not calibrated, the measurement accuracy must be greatly affected. The genetic algorithm relies on probability for iteration, and if the objective function and fitness function are determined it can be used. In theory and engineering field, a large number of applications have been obtained. The calibration of internal and external parameters of the visual camera model is an essentially typical multi-variable optimization problem. Therefore, in this paper the genetic algorithm is used to calibrate the visual measurement system[20].

The mathematical model of genetic algorithm can be expressed as Eq.(4), among them:Cis computational fitness, Ф is select operation,Eis Fitness function, Г is crossover operation,P0is initial population,Tis end condition and the flowchart is shown in Fig.2.

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GA=(C,E,P0,M,Φ,Γ,Ψ,Τ)

(4)

Fig.2 Genetic algorithm flowchart

During the calibration of the visual camera, the images are compared with the actual scene points in the imaging plane. The actual camera model can be obtained by continuous iteration of genetic algorithm. The stable data of target points can be obtained by calculating the spot center of each frame. Based on its mean value, the projection of each measuring point on the imaging plane is as follows:

(5)

Unfold matrixTcam:

(6)

(7)

where:Tx,Ty,Tzare the rotation matrices around the axis;α,β,γare the Euler Angle of the rotation of the rotation axis;Δα,Δβ,Δγare Euler Angle offsets for each installation Angle deviation;α*,β*,γ*are compensations for the modified Euler Angle; and the optimization objective function is:

(8)

3 Simulation and Test

3.1 Test Scheme

Test and measurement scheme as shown in Fig.3(a). The satellite is fixed to the dedicated support rack, and the surrounding area is decorated with infrared lamps. Two digital cameras are placed over the satellite platform, which can cover the entire roof. The two camera’s foot paste target points are used as the measuring points in the thermal deformation test as shown in Fig.3(b). The main parameters of the camera are shown in Table 1. The accuracy of the system is 4 μm+4 μm/m.

3.2 External Heat Flow

According to satellite on-orbit outside heat flow condition (vernal equinox 0, vernal equinox 6, summer solstice 0, summer solstice at 6, 12, 18, the typical such as 8.8° ), infrared lamp array was placed. By controlling the heat flux density of lamp array in different regions of the satellite in order to satisfy satellite parts temperature level of expected target. The vernal equinox and 8.8° condition outer heat flow applying to the target satellite deck in 24 h was shown in Figs.4 and 5.

3.3 Test and Simulation Comparison Analysis

(a) Test scheme diagram

(b) Layout of target mark

Fig.3 Thermal deformation test and measurement scheme of satellite platform

Fig.4 Target temperature field of the spring sub-working condition

Fig.5 Working condition of 8.8° target temperature field

Fig.6 Thermal deformation test diagram

Under the normal temperature and pressure, the camera mounting face is measured, and the result is used as the basic working condition of the whole thermal deformation test. The heating of the satellite platform is carried out according to the external heat flow conditions of each established working condition. After setting the temperature difference and stable, the installation face of the two cameras was measured by using digital close-range photogrammetry. Use the least square method to fitAcamera andBcamera installation plane to evaluate the orientation change of the mounting surface, and the fitting plane is shown in Fig.7.

Fig.7 Camera mounting surface measuring point plane

According to the set of 6 typical operating conditions, repeat the above measurements to complete the data measurement of the whole heat deformation test. The camera mounting surface and two camera pointing measurement results are shown in Table 2. The ground test results show that the maximum deformation of theAcamera mounting surface is 57.5 s, and the maximum deformation of theBcamera mounting surface is 79.3 s.

At the same time, the thermal deformation condition of the satellite platform is simulated by using 6 typical external heat flow conditions in orbit. The simulation results are shown in Table 3.

Table 2 Test results of absolute deformation test of camera mounting surface

Table 3 Simulation results of absolute deformation of camera mounting surface

Fig.8 Compares theφ,θ,ψangle test and simulation data ofBcamera relative toAcamera.

(a) φ angle test

(b) θ angle test

(c) ψ angle

Fig.8BCamera-Acameraφ,θ,ψangletestandsimulationresult

The results show that the simulation results of thermal deformation under the typical temperature field of the platform are consistent with the experimental results. The test results can be used as the basis for further correction of parameters. The experimental results verify the rationality of the thermal deformation design of the platform and provide a basis for the prediction of thermal deformation during the orbit operation.

4 Conclusions

Through the thermal deformation test of platform structure, the thermal deformation of the platform under typical temperature is obtained and the simulation results are compared. The results are as follows:

1) The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results, and the rationality of the thermal deformation design of the platform is verified. Then the parameters of simulation model parameters are further corrected.

2) The maximum deformation ofAcamera mounting surface is 57.5〃, and the maximum deformation of the installation face of cameraBis 79.3〃, which can be used as basis for prediction of thermal deformation in the early stage of orbit.

However, the experiment still has the following limitations:

1) The temperature gradient setting is used to simulate the relative temperature difference between the structure plate of the satellite platform, which cannot simulate the real temperature boundary of the orbit.

2) The simulation machine only simulates the structural characteristics and the influence of air convection, so that the temperature distribution of satellite temperature field is not enough.