An object-level strategy for pan-sharpening quality assessment of high-resolution satellite imagery

Current satellite imaging systems offer a trade-off between high spatial and high spectral resolution providing panchromatic images at a higher spatial resolution and multispectral images at a lower spatial resolution but rich in spectral information while a wide range of applications need the highest level of this information, simultaneously. Image fusion techniques as means of enhancing the information content of initial panchromatic and multispectral images produce new images, titled pan-sharpened, which inherent the advantages of the initial images. Considering the impact of fusion accuracy on the quality of corresponding applications, it is necessary to evaluate the quality of these processed images. During the last decade, a lot of quality evaluation metrics have been proposed which are mostly inspired by traditional image quality metrics. These methods are mostly based on applying quality metrics at the pixel level and evaluating final quality value based on averaging of obtained metric values through the whole image. However, obtained results clearly show that the behaviour of image fusion quality is inconsistent amongst different image objects. In this article, by applying image fusion quality metrics (IFQMs) to image objects, an object-level strategy for quality assessment of the image fusion process is proposed. The proposed strategy is applied to different satellite imagery covering residential and agricultural areas. Experimental results show higher capabilities of object-level quality assessment strategy in the quality assessment of the fusion process. Evaluating fusion quality at the object level provides the potential of fusion quality assessment for each individual image object in compliance with different parameters such as the type of objects and the effective size of objects in data set.     

The future role of relay satellites for orbital telerobotics

Orbital robotics focuses on a variety of applications, as e.g. inspection and repair activities, spacecraft construction or orbit corrections. On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) activities have to be closely monitored by operators on ground. A direct contact to the spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is limiting the operational time of the robotic application. Therefore, geostationary satellites are desirable to relay the OOS signals and extend the servicing time window. A geostationary satellite in the communication chain not only introduces additional boundary conditions to the mission but also increases the time delay in the system. The latter is not very critical if the servicer satellite is operating autonomously. However, if the servicer is operating in a supervised control regime with a human in the loop, the increased time delay will have an impact on the operator’s task performance.     

全球精密单点定位性能评估

随着中国北斗三号卫星导航系统（BDS-3）全面建成与开通，北斗卫星导航系统已步入了新发展阶段，基于BDS-3实现全方位、多层次、高精度应用已成为地学研究中一项基本任务。利用全球最新均匀分布的10个MGEX跟踪站，分别从24 h内接收到的卫星数、卫星位置精度因子（PDOP）、卫星数据解算完整率和双频非组合精密单点定位（PPP）静态/动态定位精度等方面系统深入地评估了BDS-3在全球范围内的可用性。结果表明，测站对卫星跟踪能力与配备的接收机类型和区域位置有强相关性，单BDS-3卫星在全球范围内具有较强的连续定位能力，当使用SEPT POLARX5和JAVAD TRE_3接收机的情况下，数据解算完整率可达100%。此外，水平方向和高程方向定位精度分别优于2 cm和3 cm，并且在联合使用BDS-2和BDS-3定位的条件下，可使得静态定位精度在东、北和高程方向进一步提升37.6%,25.3%和38.9%。     

LARES successfully launched in orbit: Satellite and mission description

On February 13th 2012, the LARES satellite of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) was launched into orbit with the qualification flight of the new VEGA launcher of the European Space Agency (ESA). The payload was released very accurately in the nominal orbit. The name LARES means LAser RElativity Satellite and summarises the objective of the mission and some characteristics of the satellite. It is, in fact, a mission designed to test Einstein's General Relativity Theory (specifically ‘frame-dragging' and Lense-Thirring effect). The satellite is passive and covered with optical retroreflectors that send back laser pulses to the emitting ground station. This allows accurate positioning of the satellite, which is important for measuring the very small deviations from Galilei–Newton's laws. In 2008, ASI selected the prime industrial contractor for the LARES system with a heavy involvement of the universities in all phases of the programme, from the design to the construction and testing of the satellite and separation system. The data exploitation phase started immediately after the launch under a new contract between ASI and those universities. Tracking of the satellite is provided by the International Laser Ranging Service. Due to its particular design, LARES is the orbiting object with the highest known mean density in the solar system. In this paper, it is shown that this peculiarity makes it the best proof particle ever manufactured. Design aspects, mission objectives and preliminary data analysis will be also presented.     

具有星间链路的导航星座重构研究

针对具有星间链路的导航星座在卫星节点或链路失效情况下的重构优化设计问题,提出了一种基于遗传算法的设计方法。首先,根据导航星座的功能需求与设计约束,建立了星座综合重构优化设计模型。其次,提出了基于遗传算法的综合优化设计方法,并根据问题特性对遗传算法的具体操作进行了修改。最后,应用该方法对Walker 24/3/2构型星座及网状星间网络在节点和链路混合故障模式下的重构进行了优化设计。结果表明,基于该方法重构后的星座与网络拓扑性能能够得到一定程度的改善,证明了方法的可行性。     

基于MPI的卫星遥感数据实时处理平台设计

针对高速率卫星遥感数据实时处理的要求,设计了一种卫星遥感数据实时处理平台。该平台采用分层设计思想,自上而下分为表现与控制层、业务处理层、基础服务层和应用支持层。结合消息传递接口(MPI)技术,构建了分布式实时并行处理平台框架。原型系统验证结果表明,该平台能处理下传码速率达450Mbit/s的双通道数据,单通道处理速率高达6Gbit/s。文章提出的平台设计应用于遥感卫星的地面检测系统,具有处理速度快、运行稳定的优点。     

卫星对地观测技术在防灾救灾中的作用研究

充分利用各种对地观测技术,从信息化的角度支持防灾救灾行动,已被列入政府的重要工作内容。总结前一阶段的经验,从灾前、灾期、灾后的全过程系统地考虑如何充分发挥卫星对地观测技术的防灾救灾作用,是一个值得研究的问题。文章从防灾预案、灾期救援和灾后重建三个方面研究了卫星对地观测技术在防灾救灾全过程中发挥作用的技术途径。     

不同GNSS在高纬度地区时间传递性能分析

全球卫星导航系统（GNSS）载波相位时间传递技术是高精度时间传递领域的主要研究方法之一，但目前关于该部分的研究主要集中在中低纬度地区，在高纬度地区并不多见。不同GNSS由于星座设计不同，在高纬度地区结构差异较大，因此需要对不同GNSS在高纬度地区的时间传递性能进行分析。实验结果表明，在高纬度地区时间传递中，Galileo稳定度最高，GPS和BDS次之，GLONASS最差。同时因在高纬度地区卫星的高度角普遍偏低，为合理平衡低高度角时可视卫星多和多路径误差大的矛盾，对不同截止高度角下获取的链路时间传递性能进行了分析。结果表明，在5°截止高度角下，高纬度地区的时间传递链路稳定性最好。     

小卫星“微型核”CMOS功率放大器设计

在以往的小卫星设计中,构成卫星的最基本单元大都是由分立的元器件组成。本文采用SMIC 0．18μm Si CMOS工艺,设计了一种用于星载信息电子系统的高效率功率放大器,在3．3V电源电压下,输入功率为0dBm时,输出功率为21．4dBm,附加功率效率为60％,输入端反射系数S11=-35dB,可满足星载信息电子系统要求。     

TDRSS中用户星的星-星天线跟踪规律深入研究

应用坐标转换，得到用户星的星-星天线基本跟踪规律。针对几种情况，并考虑地球的隔断影响和天线的自身限制，对星一星天线的方位角和俯仰角表达式进行了修正和补充。最后，针对某用户星，应用Matlab进行数学仿真。结果表明，根据得出的跟踪规律，可以使用户星的星一星天线最大范围地跟踪中继卫星。