JP-7856823-B2 - Radar calibration and tracking of space objects

JP7856823B2JP 7856823 B2JP7856823 B2JP 7856823B2JP-7856823-B2

Inventors

ニコルズ，マイケル
グリフィス，ネイサン
セパーリー，ダニエル
ルー，エドワード
バロリ，サナド
ブオノコア，ジョン
チェン，スティーブン
ロスナー，クリストファー
スティーブンソン，マシュー
トランブル，クレイグ
ウォン，ゲラルド
アデルマン，マシュー
パーク，インクワン

Assignees

レオラボズ，インコーポレイテッド．

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20250602
Priority Date: 20191011

Claims (20)

It is a system , The defined domain and A first frame arranged within the defined region, A first trough reflector positioned within the defined region, wherein the first trough reflector is fixed to the first frame, and the first trough reflector has a first shape, a first longitudinal valley, and a first scale, A first 1D phase array disposed within the defined region, wherein the first 1D phase array is supported by the first frame on the first trough reflector, so that the first 1D phase array transmits a set of signals via the first trough reflector and receives a set of reflections based on the set of signals via the first trough reflector , wherein the set of signals is a first set of signals and the set of reflections is a first set of reflections , A second frame arranged within the defined region, A second trough reflector positioned within the defined region, wherein the second trough reflector is fixed to the second frame, and the second trough reflector has a second shape, a second longitudinal valley, and a second scale, wherein the second shape is the first shape, the second longitudinal valley is parallel to the first longitudinal valley, and the second scale is smaller than the first scale, A second 1D phase array disposed within the defined region , wherein the second 1D phase array is supported by the second frame on the second trough reflector, and so the second 1D phase array does not transmit any signals via the second trough reflector, and receives a set of reflections based on the set of signals via the second trough reflector, A third frame arranged within the defined region, A third trough reflector positioned within the defined region, wherein the third trough reflector is fixed to the third frame, and the third trough reflector has a third shape, a third longitudinal valley, and a third scale, A third 1D phase array disposed within the defined region, wherein the third 1D phase array is supported by the third frame on the third trough reflector, and so the third 1D phase array transmits a second set of signals via the third trough reflector and receives a second set of reflections based on the second set of signals via the third trough reflector, A fourth frame arranged within the defined region, A fourth trough reflector positioned within the defined region, wherein the fourth trough reflector is fixed to the fourth frame, and the fourth trough reflector has a fourth shape, a fourth longitudinal valley, and a fourth scale, wherein the fourth shape is the third shape, the fourth longitudinal valley is parallel to the third longitudinal valley, and the fourth scale is smaller than the third scale, A fourth 1D phase array disposed within the defined region, wherein the fourth 1D phase array is supported by the fourth frame on the fourth trough reflector, and so the fourth 1D phase array does not transmit any signals via the fourth trough reflector and receives the second set of reflections based on the second set of signals via the fourth trough reflector, A system comprising, wherein the second trough reflector is positioned between the first trough reflector and the fourth trough reflector, the fourth trough reflector is positioned between the second trough reflector and the third trough reflector, the first set of reflections forms a first field of view, the second set of reflections forms a second field of view, and the first field of view does not overlap with the second field of view.
The system according to claim 1, wherein the first 1D phase array forms a first line, the second 1D phase array forms a second line, and the first line is parallel to the second line.
A first leg fixed to the first frame within the defined region, wherein the first leg extends onto the first trough reflector, A second leg fixed to the first frame within the defined region, wherein the second leg extends onto the second trough reflector, The system according to claim 1, further comprising a platform fixed to the first leg and the second leg within the defined region, wherein the platform extends over the first trough reflector along a first longitudinal valley, and the platform accommodates the first 1D phase array.
The system according to claim 3, wherein the first 1D phase array includes a set of housings arranged on the platform immediately adjacent to one another on the first trough reflector, and each member of the set of housings includes a set of antenna elements arranged in a row on each housing and facing the first trough reflector.
A first leg fixed to the second frame within the defined region, wherein the first leg extends onto the second trough reflector, A second leg fixed to the second frame within the defined region, wherein the second leg extends onto the second trough reflector, The system according to claim 1, further comprising a platform fixed to the first leg and the second leg within the defined region, wherein the platform extends over the second trough reflector along the second longitudinal valley, and the platform accommodates the second 1D phase array.
The system according to claim 5, wherein the second 1D phase array includes a set of housings arranged on the platform immediately adjacent to one another on the second trough reflector, and each member of the set of housings includes a set of antenna elements arranged in a row on each housing and facing the second trough reflector.
A container located within the defined area, wherein the container is spaced apart from the first frame, the first trough reflector, the first 1D phase array, the second frame, the second trough reflector, and the second 1D phase array, and the container has an internal area sized to allow a user to walk into. The system according to claim 1, further comprising logic disposed within the internal region, wherein the logic communicates with a first 1D phase array and a second 1D phase array, and so the logic controls the first 1D phase array and the second 1D phase array.
The system according to claim 7, wherein the logic includes a processor located within the container, a transmitter located within the container, a set of radio frequency receivers (RF receivers) located within the container, and a network interface located within the container, and the transmitter and the set of RF receivers are arranged to communicate with the processor and the network interface.
The system according to claim 7, further comprising a signal splitter coupled to the logic and the first 1D phase array, wherein the set of signals is generated based on the signal splitter receiving a set of data from the logic and splitting the set of data.
The system according to claim 1, wherein the first 1D phase array transmits a set of signals via the first trough reflector based on a first circular polarization, and receives a set of reflections via the first trough reflector based on a second circular polarization, wherein the first circular polarization is not identical to the second circular polarization.
The system according to claim 10, wherein the first circularly polarized light is opposite to the second circularly polarized light.
The system according to claim 10, wherein the second 1D phase array receives the set of reflections via the second trough reflector based on the first and second circularly polarized signals.
The system further comprises a processor that communicates with the first 1D phase array, the second 1D phase array, the third 1D phase array, and the fourth 1D phase array, the processor The system according to claim 1, which is programmed to track a space object traveling in orbit within the first and second fields of view, so that the space object traveling in orbit can be detected at least twice from within the defined region in a single path over the defined region.
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal valley is parallel to the fourth longitudinal valley.
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal valley is parallel to the third longitudinal valley.
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal valley is not parallel to the fourth longitudinal valley.
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal valley is not parallel to the third longitudinal valley.
The system further comprises a processor that communicates with the first 1D phase array, the second 1D phase array, the third 1D phase array, and the fourth 1D phase array, the processor Based on the first set of reflections, the first 1D phase array and the second 1D phase array are made to detect space objects within the first field of view, Based on the first set of reflections, the initial trajectory of the space object is determined, After the initial orbit of the space object is determined, schedules for the third 1D phase array and the fourth 1D phase array are created to detect the space object. In accordance with the above schedule, based on the second set of reflections, the third 1D phase array and the fourth 1D phase array are made to detect the space object in the second field of view, The system according to claim 1, programmed to take an action associated with the initial trajectory in response to the space object detected in the second field of view, based on the second set of reflections, in accordance with the schedule described above.
The system according to claim 18 , wherein the action includes modifying the initial trajectory so that a new trajectory is formed.
The system according to claim 18 , wherein the action includes maintaining the initial trajectory.

Description

Cross-reference of related applications: This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/914,304, filed on 11 October 2019, which is fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. This disclosure relates to radar calibration and tracking of space objects. There are various methods for tracking different types of space objects (e.g., low-Earth orbit objects, satellites, debris). For example, some space objects can be tracked via 2D phase-array radar. However, these systems are technically disadvantageous due to their large size, technical complexity, and high economic cost. Some of these technical drawbacks can be overcome by maneuverable dish radar. However, these systems are technically disadvantageous due to their low tracking rate, mechanical maneuverability, and limited beam capability. In general, this disclosure enables various techniques for calibrating radar and tracking space objects. For example, some of such techniques enable techniques for calibrating radar based on the use of (a) elemental antennas that can be embedded in a housing containing a set of antenna elements, or (b) antennas mounted on a reflector. For example, some of such techniques enable a radar site including a first 1D phase array and a second 1D phase array, where the first 1D phase array transmits a set of signals and receives a set of reflections based on the set of signals, and the second 1D phase array receives a set of reflections. In one embodiment, the system comprises a defined region, a first frame located within the defined region, a first trough reflector located within the defined region, wherein the first trough reflector is fixed to the first frame and has a first shape, a first longitudinal valley, and a first scale, a first 1D phase array located within the defined region, wherein the first 1D phase array is supported by the first frame on the first trough reflector, so that the first 1D phase array transmits a set of signals via the first trough reflector and receives a set of reflections based on the set of signals via the first trough reflector, and a second located within the defined region. The system comprises a frame, a second trough reflector positioned within a defined region, the second trough reflector being fixed to the second frame, having a second shape, a second longitudinal valley, and a second scale, wherein the second shape is the first shape, the second longitudinal valley is parallel to the first longitudinal valley, and the second scale is smaller than the first scale, and a second 1D phase array positioned within the defined region, the second 1D phase array being supported by the second frame on the second trough reflector, and therefore the second 1D phase array does not transmit any signals through the second trough reflector, but receives a set of reflections based on a set of signals through the second trough reflector. This disclosure illustrates an embodiment of a radar site.This disclosure shows several diagrams of radar sites.This disclosure shows several diagrams of radar sites.This disclosure shows several diagrams of radar sites.This disclosure shows several diagrams of radar sites.This disclosure shows several diagrams of radar sites.This disclosure shows several diagrams of radar sites.Multiple embodiments of multiple transmission or reception assemblies as described herein are shown.This disclosure illustrates embodiments of multiple transmission or reception assemblies supported via a catwalk.This disclosure shows an embodiment of the diagram of a radar site.This disclosure shows a diagrammatic embodiment of the operation management center and 1D phase array.This disclosure shows an embodiment of a frame supporting a 1D phase array on a trough reflector.An embodiment of the process for determining the initial orbit is shown in reference to a pair of diagrams showing the satellite's orbit intersecting the first and second fields of view in this disclosure.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process for determining the initial trajectory and a software architecture for that process.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process for determining the initial trajectory and a software architecture for that process.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process for determining the initial trajectory and a software architecture for that process.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process for determining the initial trajectory and a software architecture for that process.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process for determining the initial trajectory and a software architecture for that process.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process for determining the initial trajectory and a software architecture for that process.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process for determining the initial trajectory and a software architecture for that process.This disclosure provides embodiments of a process f