Vision Autonomous Relative Positioning and Orientating Algorithm for Distributed MicroNanosatellite Earth Observation System Based on Dual Quaternion

Abstract EN

It is a valid way to analyze the space object real-time movement by using distributed satellite earth observation system, which can provide the stereographic image through the collaboration of the satellites.

That relative position and pose estimation is one of the key technologies for distributed micro/nanosatellite earth observation system (DMSEOS).

In this paper, on the basis of the attitude dynamics of spacecrafts and the theory of machine vision, an autonomous positioning and orientating algorithm for distributed micro/nanosatellites based on dual quaternion and EKF (extended Kalman filtering) is proposed.

Firstly, how to represent a line transform unit using dual quaternion is introduced.

Then, the feature line point of the line transform unit is defined.

And then, on the basis of the attitude dynamics of spacecrafts and the theory of EKF, we build the state and observation equations.

Finally, the simulations show that this algorithm is an accurate valid method in positioning and orientating of distributed micro/nanosatellite earth observation system.