Jintin Frank, Engineering Minds Munich GmbH
Chedi Fassi, Engineering Minds Munich GmbH
Markus Plattner, Engineering Minds Munich GmbH
Jintin Frank, CEO, Engineering Minds Munich GmbH
Engineering Minds Munich has developed a Camera Monitoring Unit (CMU), specifically designed to monitor and verify the deployment of satellite systems. The CMU facilitates image capture and processing through a MIPI-CSI2.0 interface, enabling cameras to be positioned up to 1 meter from the main processing board via a flexible PCB. This configuration supports satellites in visually verifying the deployment of critical components, such as solar panels, and detecting potential anomalies during operations.
At the core of the system is the Smart Processing Module (SPM), a power-efficient payload controller capable of managing high data rates and throughput. The SPM performs real-time processing within frame acquisition time, supporting the implementation of advanced image processing algorithms. Component selection for the SPM has been guided by radiation tolerance considerations: components either have space-qualified counterparts, are analyzed regarding radiation sensitivity, or are inherently radiation-tolerant (e.g., MRAM). The SPM has demonstrated insensitivity to Total Ionizing Dose (TID) levels of up to 20 krad, ensuring reliability in harsh space environments.
The CMU’s primary function is to manage and process data from connected camera systems, and ongoing development aims to incorporate integrated object recognition algorithms. These algorithms will analyze captured images to assess specific features, such as the geometry and positioning of deployables, verifying successful deployment. Metainformation will be extracted from the images, to enable autonomous decision-making, allowing the system to determine whether additional images are needed or if deployment can be considered complete. To optimize communication, the CMU will also implement image compression, minimizing data transmission requirements by ensuring only essential information is sent to ground stations.
The CMU also features robust power management capabilities, providing multiple low-voltage outputs and constant current sources of up to 2A, suitable for powering cameras and release mechanisms. Housekeeping data, including power status and voltage levels, is continuously monitored and accessible via memory-mapped register controls, ensuring detailed diagnostic insights and operational transparency.
By combining real-time image capture with onboard processing, the CMU enhances mission assurance throughout the satellite’s operational lifetime. Captured imagery not only verifies deployments but also assists in detecting and evaluating anomalies during later mission phases. The system’s design prioritizes compactness and efficiency, enabling autonomous satellite operations and optimizing resource utilization while minimizing data transmission demands.
This paper will detail the design and implementation of the CMU, including its hardware architecture and algorithms. Preliminary results will demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in deployment monitoring. Various data compression techniques will also be explored and evaluated to further optimize performance. The CMU’s design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, reliability, and robustness, ensuring the system meets mission requirements without unnecessary complexity.
In conclusion, the CMU represents a reliable and versatile solution for monitoring satellite deployables. By integrating advanced hardware and software, it enhances satellite self-monitoring capabilities and ensures operational reliability in challenging space environments.