A Real-time Faint Space Debris Detector With Learning-based LCM

TL;DR

This paper introduces a real-time, learning-based method for detecting faint space debris with low SNR, combining local contrast and maximum likelihood estimation to improve accuracy and efficiency in space situational awareness.

Contribution

It proposes a novel low-SNR streak detection algorithm using local contrast and MLE, enhancing detection speed and precision over traditional methods.

Findings

Effective detection at SNR 2.0

Comparable centroid accuracy to state-of-the-art

Significantly improved efficiency over existing methods

Abstract

With the development of aerospace technology, the increasing population of space debris has posed a great threat to the safety of spacecraft. However, the low intensity of reflected light and high angular velocity of space debris impede the extraction. Besides, due to the limitations of the ground observation methods, small space debris can hardly be detected, making it necessary to enhance the spacecraft's capacity for space situational awareness (SSA). Considering that traditional methods have some defects in low-SNR target detection, such as low effectiveness and large time consumption, this paper proposes a method for low-SNR streak extraction based on local contrast and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), which can detect space objects with SNR 2.0 efficiently. In the proposed algorithm, local contrast will be applied for crude classifications, which will return connected components as preliminary results, and then MLE will be performed to reconstruct the connected components of targets via orientated growth, further improving the precision. The algorithm has been verified with both simulated streaks and real star tracker images, and the average centroid error of the proposed algorithm is close to the state-of-the-art method like ODCC. At the same time, the algorithm in this paper has significant advantages in efficiency compared with ODCC. In conclusion, the algorithm in this paper is of high speed and precision, which guarantees its promising applications in the extraction of high dynamic targets.