NPS NRP Executive SummaryIncreasing Sensor Efficiency for Small Satellite Maritime Domain AwarenessN2/N6 - Information WarfareThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Karpenko, Mark

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NPS NRP Executive SummaryIncreasing Sensor Efficiency for Small Satellite Maritime Domain AwarenessApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited. This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)N2/N6 - Information Warfar

Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate School

Calhoun: The NPS Institutional ArchiveDSpace RepositoryFaculty and Researchers Faculty and Researchers' Publications2019-12Increasing Sensor Efficiency for Small SatelliteMaritime Domain AwarenessKarpenko, MarkMonterey, California: Naval Postgraduate Schoolhttp://hdl.handle.net/10945/69979This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, UnitedStates Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in theUnited States.Downloaded from NPS Archive: CalhounNPS NRP Executive Summary Title: Increasing Sensor Efficiency for Small Satellite Maritime Domain Awareness Report Date: 10/14/19 Project Number (IREF ID): NPS-19-N324-A Naval Postgraduate School / School: Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences     MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA INCREASING SENSOR EFFICIENCY FOR SMALL SATELLITE MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS    Executive Summary Type: Final Report Period of Performance: 10/15/2018–10/14/2019  Researchers: Principal Investigator (PI): Dr. Mark Karpenko, GSEAS, Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering (MAE) Additional Researcher(s): Dr. Isaac M. Ross, GSEAS, Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering (MAE) and Dr. Ronald J. Proulx, GSEAS, Space Systems Academic Group (SSAG)  Prepared for: Topic Sponsor Lead Organization: N2/N6 – Information Warfare Topic Sponsor Name: Mr. Michael F. MacDonald, Deputy Director Navy TENCAP, OPNAV N2/N6FX2B Topic Sponsor Contact Information: michael.macdonald1@navy.mil; (703) 695-7302   Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. NPS NRP Executive Summary Title: Increasing Sensor Efficiency for Small Satellite Maritime Domain Awareness Report Date: 10/14/19 Project Number (IREF ID): NPS-19-N324-A Naval Postgraduate School / School: Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  Project Summary Small satellites in low-earth orbit can be used to enhance maritime domain awareness activities. A planning algorithm that can generate imagery collection sequences rapidly, in real-time or near real-time, is needed for effective use of these systems. In this project, we explore a new concept for real-time mission planning that can generate high-value collection sequences while (i) automatically accommodating operational constraints such as satellite slew rate limits and sensor keep out zones; (ii) leveraging the physical capabilities of a small satellite attitude control system for faster slews; and (iii) satisfying engineering feasibility for flight. Insertion of a high-priority collection is also supported with the least disruption to the mission. The elements of the new concept are illustrated over a deterministic target set for a simplified proxy problem. The results suggest that further developing the new planning algorithm can enable enhanced collection capacity for a constellation of small satellites. Future work should explore extensions of the concept to uncertain target sets.  Keywords: maritime domain awareness; small satellites; real-time mission planning; orienteering problems; optimal search; fast attitude maneuvers, tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination  Background  Part of maritime domain awareness is concerned with understanding the movement of ships that can impact the safety and security of the United Sates.  Collecting information on dark targets is of particular importance because these ships cannot be identified using automatic identification system signatures. Small satellites in low-earth orbit offer one potential solution for monitoring dark targets through the use of electro-optical or similar sensors. Operating a small satellite system for maritime domain awareness requires a planning algorithm that determines sequences of targets for monitoring from a potentially over-subscribed set. A good plan will maximize information gain over a given pass.  A conventional planning process is multi-step and relies on concepts from the field of graph theory. A planning graph comprises two parts: edges and vertices. A set of N vertices represents attributes associated with collecting on a particular target of interest, such as the presumed geographic location of a dark target and the target’s information value.  Edges encode attributes associated with the activities that must be performed in order to execute a collection, such as a maneuver. To maximize the utility of the small satellite, the sequence of targets yielding the largest overall collection value is sought. This is the so-called orienteering problem. NPS NRP Executive Summary Title: Increasing Sensor Efficiency for Small Satellite Maritime Domain Awareness Report Date: 10/14/19 Project Number (IREF ID): NPS-19-N324-A Naval Postgraduate School / School: Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences  Findings and Conclusions This study explores an alternative planning methodology with the goal of increasing the efficacy of satellite collection planning towards real time. Solving an orienteering problem for satellite collection planning in real time is not possible because it is necessary to first determine the N2 edge weights by solving a set of dynamic optimization sub-problems and then iterate through various candidate target sequences to find the sequence that maximizes the utility of the collection plan. To obtain a collection plan in a given time frame, heuristics are often used in an effort to simplify the graph.  This is typically done by removing vertices or using overly simplistic vehicle models to reduce computational load.  Then, because the graph problem is only an abstraction, the operational constraints need to be checked in a post-processing step to ensure all practical requirements are met. In this graph-centric framework, real-time situational information cannot be readily ingested. The result is a bottleneck in the tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination process.   In contrast to the status quo approach where dynamic optimization sub-problems are ancillary to solving the graph, we flip the problem statement. That is, we instead formulate and solve a dynamic optimization problem with a graph imbedded as an ancillary sub-problem. The new concept necessitates the use of a new mathematical framework for describing the attributes associated with the vertices of a graph in terms of a real-valued variables that are conducive to dynamic optimization theory. In this study, we implement a particular mathematical problem formulation to illustrate the possibility of solving a satellite collection planning problem using real-value imbedding and without solving a graph.   Using the new concepts, the time needed for maneuver planning is dramatically reduced so the planner can incorporate situational information as it becomes available. The fast planning algorithm can accommodate improved models of spacecraft physics and has the potential to revolutionize the way small satellites are operated to support maritime domain awareness and similar activities.  Recommendations for Further Research Because the precise location of dark targets may not be known in advance, the locations of targets for collection were considered to be deterministic. To advance the concept beyond this study, a belief state model can be used to assign probability distributions to the locations of uncertain targets. Further research should explore how a belief state model can be incorporated into a dynamic optimization-based planning algorithm. Additional work should also be done to map the concepts to a practical small satellite system of interest to the sponsor. 

Increasing Sensor Efficiency for Small Satellite Maritime Domain Awareness

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Increasing Sensor Efficiency for Small Satellite Maritime Domain Awareness

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