JP-7855101-B2 - Surveillance systems, satellites, and ground facilities

Inventors

• 迎 久幸

Assignees

• 三菱電機株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250307

Claims (6)

1. This is a monitoring system that monitors the target area under the condition that the area where the target exists is receiving sunlight. The system includes an artificial satellite that orbits the area an integer number of times per day and passes over the aforementioned target area . The aforementioned orbit is a sun-synchronous orbit, an inclined orbit, and a circular orbit. The latitude of the northernmost point of the aforementioned orbit is near the latitude of the aforementioned target area. The aforementioned satellite flies to the northernmost point of its orbit at the moment when the local time of the monitored object becomes 12:00. The aforementioned artificial satellite, Propulsion system and A monitoring device for monitoring the aforementioned target, A pointing function for changing the monitoring direction of the aforementioned monitoring device, The monitoring control device includes a device that directs the monitoring direction toward the object being monitored by controlling the pointing function, The monitoring and control device is a monitoring system that controls the thrust of the propulsion device to bring the phase position of the artificial satellite closer to the object being monitored, and after controlling the thrust of the propulsion device, maintains sun-synchronous conditions by controlling the thrust of the propulsion device in the opposite direction to the controlled thrust direction.
2. The aforementioned target area is located around 40 degrees north latitude. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the orbit in which the artificial satellite remains near 40 degrees north latitude during sunlight is maintained by maintaining the aforementioned sun-synchronization conditions, and the monitoring device views directly below near 40 degrees north latitude to avoid a decrease in resolution due to the oblique effect.
3. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device performs continuous monitoring for 10 minutes or more three times during the daytime, for a total of approximately three hours of monitoring.
4. The monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring device performs continuous monitoring for 10 minutes or more three times during the daytime, for a total of about three hours of monitoring.
5. An artificial satellite constituting the monitoring system described in any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. Ground equipment for controlling the monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , A satellite control system that generates control commands for controlling the propulsion device, the monitoring device, and the monitoring control device that controls the pointing function, A communication device that transmits the control command to the artificial satellite, Ground facilities equipped with these features.

Description

This disclosure relates to a system for monitoring objects on Earth or in outer space from space. Systems that monitor specific regions of the Earth using artificial satellites orbiting the Earth are well known. Patent Document 1 discloses a system for observing a target area using a constellation of observation satellites orbiting the Earth. The cost of building the system increases with the number of satellites used. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-126876 Ryan Anderson, “Thermal Environment for Polar Communications and Weather System in the Telesat-Tundra Orbit”, Carleton University, (Canada), 2014 A diagram illustrating the configuration of the monitoring system 100 and ground equipment 140 in reference form 1 .A diagram showing the orbital 122 in reference form 1 .A diagram showing the relationship between satellite velocity and satellite altitude in reference form 1 .A diagram showing the relationship between the orbit 122 and the monitoring time in reference form 1 .A diagram showing the change in satellite altitude in reference form 1 .A diagram showing the relationship between the orbit 122 and the monitoring time in reference form 2 .A diagram showing the change in satellite altitude in reference form 2 .A diagram showing the relationship between the orbit 122 and the monitoring time in reference form 3 .A diagram showing the change in satellite altitude in reference form 3 .A diagram showing the relationship between the orbit 122 and the monitoring time in reference form 4 .A diagram showing the change in satellite altitude in reference form 4 .A diagram showing the relationship between the orbital path 122 and the monitoring time in Embodiment 1 .A diagram showing the relationship between the orbit 122, the artificial satellite 101, and the sun 123 in Embodiment 1 .A diagram showing the relationship between the orbital path 122 and the monitoring time in Embodiment 1 .A diagram showing the configuration of the satellite constellation 130 in reference form 6 .A diagram showing the configuration of the satellite constellation 130 in reference form 6 .A diagram showing the movement of the satellite constellation 130 in reference form 6 .A diagram showing the movement of the satellite constellation 130 in reference form 6 .A diagram showing the movement of the satellite constellation 130 in reference form 6 .A graph showing the relationship between orbital altitude and latitude in reference form 6 .A diagram showing the orbital 122 in reference form 7 .A diagram showing the orbital 122 in reference form 8 .A diagram showing the orbital 122 in reference form 9 .A diagram showing the orbital orbit 122 in reference form 10 .A diagram showing the orbital orbit 122 in reference form 10 .A diagram showing the orbital orbit 122 in reference form 10 . In embodiments , reference embodiments , and drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numeral. The descriptions of elements denoted by the same reference numeral as those described are omitted or simplified as appropriate. Reference Form 1 . The monitoring system 100 will be explained based on Figures 1 to 5. The monitoring system 100 is a system for monitoring targets such as Earth's geographical features or objects in outer space from space, with a high degree of flexibility in the monitoring time period and under favorable observation conditions. In Reference Form 1 , values such as time, altitude, distance, or number of laps are approximate. ***Explanation of the structure*** The configuration of the monitoring system 100 will be explained based on Figure 1. The monitoring system 100 is implemented by artificial satellites 101. There may be multiple artificial satellites 101. The artificial satellite 101 is equipped with a monitoring device 102, a propulsion device 103, a communication device 104, an attitude control device 105, and a power supply device 106, among other things. The monitoring device 102 is mounted on the artificial satellite 101 and monitors the target of monitoring. Specifically, the monitoring device 102 is a visible optical sensor or an infrared optical sensor. However, the monitoring device 102 may be a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or other device. "Monitoring" may be read as "observation" or "photography". The propulsion system 103 is mounted on the satellite 101 and changes the speed of the satellite 101. Specifically, the propulsion system 103 is an electric propulsion system. For example, the propulsion system 103 is an ion engine or a Hall thruster. The communication device 104 is mounted on the artificial satellite 101 and transmits monitoring data, etc. The monitoring data is data obtained through monitoring performed by the monitoring device 102. The monitoring data corresponds to images of the monitored object. The attitude control device 105 is mounted on the satellite 101 and controls attitude elements such as the attitude of the satellite 101, the angular velocity of the satellit