JP2002163634A - Direction control system for photovoltaic power generation satellite - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stop radiation when the direction of an energy beam radiated and transmitted from a satellite onto the earth is deviated in a direction control system for photovoltaic power generation satellite. SOLUTION: Power generated by a photovoltaic power generation panel 11 of a satellite 10 is converted into the energy of radio wave or light by an energy converting part 12 and radiated from an energy emitting part 13 onto the earth. A search system 1 sends the image signal of a receiving facility 20 on the earth to an image processor, image data are provided here and compared with reference image data stored in a storage part 4 by a deciding part 3, and when there is the deviation in the direction of the beam, the emission of the energy beam from the energy emitting part 13 is stopped. At the same time, the direction of the search system 1 and the energy emitting part 13 is corrected by driving a driving device 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a direction adjusting system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite, and when launching energy from the satellite onto the earth, the launch direction can be accurately matched with the direction of the energy receiving equipment on the earth. It is a system that can do it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, satellites are equipped with a large number of photovoltaic panels for obtaining electricity from sunlight using solar cells, and the generated power is emitted as energy beams to power receiving facilities on the earth.
A system for receiving power on the ground and converting it from an energy beam to electric power to obtain electric power has been studied, and is attracting attention as a future power generation system.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of energy transmission by a photovoltaic power generation satellite, in which a photovoltaic power generation satellite 10 is launched into orbit of the earth and is stationary, and a photovoltaic power generation panel 11 is mounted on the satellite 10. Many are mounted, and panel 11 receives sunlight and generates electricity. The obtained electric power is converted into radio waves, laser light, and the like in the satellite, and is emitted from the energy emitting unit 13 toward the earth as an energy beam 30. The energy beam 30 is a high-density beam having high directivity and is emitted toward a receiving facility on the ground so that the energy does not diverge to the surroundings. It is received by the unit 21.

FIG. 6 is a general block diagram of a photovoltaic power generation satellite system. FIG. 6A is a photovoltaic satellite, and FIG. 6B is an internal block diagram of a power receiving facility. As shown in (a),
A solar power generation panel 11 is mounted on the solar satellite 10, and electricity generated by the panel 11 is converted into a high-power microwave or laser beam by an energy conversion unit 12, and is transmitted from an energy emission unit 13 to the earth. Energy beam 30 towards
Fired as

[0005] In (b), the power receiving facility 20 on the earth receives the energy beam 3 transmitted from the solar satellite 10.
0 is received by the energy receiving unit 21, the radio wave or light energy is converted into electric power by the electric power converting unit 22, and the obtained electric power is stored in the electric power storage equipment 23, or a predetermined frequency and voltage are And the power is supplied from the power transmission facility 25 to various facilities.

[0006]

As described above, the photovoltaic satellite system currently under study is a system for transmitting energy from a satellite to the earth as a beam of microwaves or laser beams, and the beam is transmitted to the earth. High energy density beam. Therefore, it is dangerous and must be avoided that the aircraft, the transportation on the ground, the human being, etc. receive or block the irradiation of the energy beam on the earth.

[0007] When irradiating energy from the photovoltaic power generation satellite to the earth, if the receiving equipment is installed on, for example, a mega-float floating on the sea on the earth, the receiving equipment fluctuates, so that the irradiation direction is shifted. If a deviation occurs in the irradiation direction, surrounding facilities and personnel are exposed to the high-density energy beam, which causes a dangerous state. Therefore, the energy irradiation must be stopped. In the current photovoltaic power generation satellite system, a technology for immediately detecting such a deviation and stopping the irradiation of the energy beam has not yet been established.

Accordingly, the present invention accurately detects a deviation between an energy beam sent from the solar power generation satellite to the earth and a receiving facility receiving the beam, and stops irradiation of the energy beam if there is a deviation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a direction adjustment system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite that can correct the deviation and start irradiation of the energy beam.

[0009]

The present invention provides the following means (1) to (4) in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

(1) Electric power from a solar power generation satellite is transmitted by radio waves,
An energy beam direction adjusting system for converting electromagnetic energy into light or laser light energy and transmitting the energy beam from the energy emitting unit to the earth as an energy beam. An exploration device that obtains an image signal; an image processing unit that processes an image signal from the exploration device; a determination unit that determines a deviation of the direction of the energy beam from the image from the image processing unit to the receiving facility; A driving device for adjusting the direction of the energy emitting unit according to the result, wherein the determination unit compares an image from the image processing unit with reference image data on the earth previously stored, and If the error is within the error range, the emission of the energy beam is permitted. If the error is out of the range, the energy beam from the energy emitting unit is stopped, and the energy is transmitted to the driving device. Direction adjustment system photovoltaic satellites and controls to adjust the direction of the elevation portion.

(2) The exploration apparatus emits a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser beam toward the earth, takes in the reflected wave, acquires position data on the earth, and determines the position data on the earth based on the data. The direction adjustment system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to (1), wherein control is performed so as to adjust the direction of the energy emitting unit to the driving device by comparing the image data with the image data. (3) An energy beam direction adjusting system for converting electric power from a solar power generation satellite into radio wave, electromagnetic wave, light or laser light energy and transmitting the energy from an energy emitting unit to the earth as an energy beam. An exploration device that searches for the satellite from the receiving equipment and obtains an image signal thereof; an image processing unit that processes an image signal from the exploration device; and an image processing unit that processes the energy beam from the image from the image processing unit to the satellite. A determination unit for determining a deviation in direction, and a transmission unit for transmitting a signal for adjusting the direction of the energy emitting unit to the satellite based on the determination result, the determination unit includes: Is compared with reference image data in the vicinity of the satellite which is held in advance, and the emission of the energy beam is permitted if the error is within a predetermined error range. Direction adjustment system photovoltaic satellites and controls so that the signal for stopping the energy beam transmitted from the transmitting unit to the energy firing portion of the satellite to adjust the direction of the energy firing of.

(4) The search device transmits radio waves to a satellite,
An electromagnetic wave, or a beam of laser light is emitted and the reflected wave is captured to acquire the satellite's position data, the determination unit determines a positional deviation to the satellite based on the position data, and from the transmission unit to the satellite. The direction adjusting system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to (3), wherein a signal for adjusting the direction is sent to control the energy emitting unit to adjust the direction.

In (1) of the present invention, a receiving device on the earth is searched by a search device from a satellite, an image of the receiving device is captured, and the image signal is sent to an image processing unit. The image processing unit sends the image data to the determination unit, and the determination unit compares the image data with the reference image data of the receiving equipment stored in advance, obtains an error from the reference image data, and checks whether the error is within a predetermined error range. If the error is within the allowable range, the determination unit allows the emission of the energy beam from the energy emitting unit. If the error is out of the allowable range, the determination unit sends a stop signal to the energy emitting unit to stop the emission of the energy beam. At the same time, the determining unit sends a signal for correcting the beam emitting direction of the energy emitting unit to the driving device, and drives the energy emitting unit to adjust the direction. Therefore, when the direction of the energy beam shifts, the emission of the beam is stopped, so that the danger that an object or a person is exposed to the energy beam can be avoided.

In (2) of the present invention, the exploration apparatus emits a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser beam to emit a reflected wave from the earth, instead of capturing the receiving equipment on the earth as an image signal by a camera, for example. Since the position of the receiving equipment is recognized from the shape of the ground based on the reception, the positions of the energy emitting unit and the receiving equipment can be adjusted similarly to the invention of (1).

According to (3) of the present invention, a search device, an image processing unit, and a determination unit are provided in a receiving facility on the earth, search a satellite from the earth, and an energy beam emitted from an energy emitting unit of the satellite is generated. If the direction shifts without going to the receiving equipment on the earth, a signal for stopping the emission of the energy beam is sent from the determining unit to the satellite via the transmitting unit, and the energy beam is stopped, so that a dangerous state can be avoided.

According to the invention (4), the exploration apparatus emits a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser beam toward the satellite, recognizes the shape of the satellite by the reflected wave from the satellite, and determines the position of the energy emitting unit. Since the confirmation is made, the position can be adjusted in the same manner as in the invention of (3).

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system for adjusting the direction of a photovoltaic satellite according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is an explanatory diagram in the case of exploring the earth from a satellite, and FIG. 1 (b) is a block diagram inside the satellite. . First of this implementation
In the embodiment, an image on the earth is taken from the photovoltaic satellite 10 or a search beam is emitted toward a receiving facility on the earth to search for a receiving facility at a target point on the earth, and the energy beam is emitted. If the position is shifted, the irradiation of the energy beam is stopped, the shift amount is corrected, and the energy beam irradiation is started after the shift amount is corrected.

In FIG. 1A, an exploration apparatus 1 captures an image of the earth by photographing a target point on the earth with an infrared camera or the like, or uses radio waves, electromagnetic waves, laser light, or the like to detect the earth. A spot-like search beam 31 is radiated toward the upper target point, that is, the receiving equipment 20, and its image signal is taken in. If the target point shifts, for example, if 20 shifts as 20a, the search The apparatus 1 can detect a positional shift by capturing the image and comparing it with a reference image.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the photovoltaic power generation satellite 10, and reference numeral 11 denotes a photovoltaic panel which receives sunlight and generates power. Numeral 12 converts the electric power generated by the energy conversion unit into electromagnetic wave or light energy. Reference numeral 13 denotes an energy emitting unit that emits the high-power microwave or laser light converted by the energy converting unit 12 to a target point on the earth, that is, to the receiving facility 20. These 11 to 13
Is the same as the configuration of the conventional example described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an exploration apparatus described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1A, an image of the vicinity of the receiving facility 20 on the earth is captured as an image obtained by photographing with a camera or the like, or as an image signal whose shape has been recognized by receiving a reflected wave caused by emission of a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser beam. To the image processing device 2. The image processing device 2 processes these image signals and sends them to the determination unit 3 as image data. Reference numeral 4 denotes a storage unit which previously stores image data near the receiving facility 20 on the earth as reference image data. 5 is a driving device,
The energy emitting unit 13 and the search device 1 are driven in conjunction with each other.

In the above configuration, the image signal in the vicinity of the receiving equipment 20 captured by the search device 1 is captured by the image processing device 2 and sent to the determination unit 3 as image data. The determination unit 3 fetches the reference image data stored in the storage unit 4 and compares the image fetched from the exploration apparatus 1 with the reference image data. If there is a difference, the energy emission direction of the energy emission unit 13 is changed to the reception equipment 20. Is determined to have occurred, and the energy emission of the energy emitting unit 13 is stopped.

In this case, the judging unit 3 outputs a drive signal for correction in the drive unit 5 so as to repair the positional deviation.
Then, the search device 1 and the energy emitting unit 13 are driven in conjunction with each other, and the direction of the energy emitting unit 13 is corrected so that the energy beam 30 is directed to the receiving facility 20.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of control of the system according to the first embodiment described above. In the figure,
In step S1, the exploration apparatus 1 captures an image signal near the receiving facility 20 on the earth, and in S2, the image processing apparatus 2 obtains image data. Next, in S3, the determination unit 3 compares the captured image data with the reference image data stored in the storage unit 4.

Next, in S4, it is checked whether or not the captured image data and the reference image data are within an error range of a position within an allowable range. A signal to permit energy emission is output to the receiving equipment 20 to start or maintain the irradiation of the energy. If the error is outside the range of the error, S6
In step (1), an energy emission stop signal is sent to stop the energy emission from the energy emitting unit 13.

Then, in S7, the energy emitting unit 1
3 is driven by the driving device 5 to correct the position, the energy beam 30 is directed to the receiving equipment 20, and the position is corrected.
If it is not possible to correct the direction of the energy beam 30 by correcting the position of the energy emitting unit 13, the position of the satellite itself is corrected.

When the position correction is completed in S7, S1
The search is started again by the search device 1, image processing is performed in S2 and S3, and if the deviation of the image after position correction is within the allowable range in S4, the emission of the energy beam 30 is started in S5, The energy beam 30 accurately irradiates the receiving equipment 20 on the earth. Next, it is checked whether or not the power transmission is completed in S8. If the power transmission is completed, the process ends in S9. If the power transmission is not completed, the process returns to S1 and returns to the exploration apparatus 1 again.
To start exploration.

According to the system for adjusting the direction of a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to the first embodiment described above, in a system for transmitting energy from the photovoltaic power generation satellite 10 toward the earth, Marine mega float,
In such a case, there is a possibility that the position of the receiving equipment 20 fluctuates and the irradiation direction of the energy beam 30 shifts. The energy beam 30 has a high energy density, and there is a danger when irradiated to an object or a person. In this case, the irradiation of the energy beam 30 from the satellite 10 is immediately stopped, so that the danger can be avoided.

FIG. 3 shows a direction adjusting system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 (a) is an explanatory diagram for exploring a satellite from above the earth, and FIG. It is a block diagram in a receiving installation. In the second embodiment, an image captured by a camera or the like, or a search beam 31 is sent from the receiving facility 20 on the ground to the satellite 10,
A device for exploring the satellite 10, which stops irradiation of the energy beam 30 when there is a positional deviation between the satellite 10 and the receiving equipment 20, corrects the deviation amount, and starts irradiation of the energy beam after correcting the deviation amount. It is.

In FIG. 3A, the search device 1 on the receiving equipment 20 side uses an infrared camera, or uses a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave or a laser beam, or the like, to set a target point, that is, the satellite 1.
Irradiate a spot-like exploration beam 31 toward 0,
When the target point is shifted, for example, when 10 is shifted as 10a, the search device 1
However, a position shift can be detected by capturing the image and comparing it with a reference image.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the receiving facility 20 on the ground and the inside of the photovoltaic power generation satellite 10, and the reference numerals in the figure are the same as those in FIG. 1 for convenience of explanation. 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a solar panel which receives sunlight and generates power. Numeral 12 converts the electric power generated by the energy conversion unit into electromagnetic wave or light energy. Reference numeral 13 denotes an energy emitting unit that emits the high-power microwave or laser light converted by the energy converting unit 12 to a target point on the earth, that is, to the receiving facility 20. These components 11 to 13 are the same as the configuration of the conventional example described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an exploration apparatus described with reference to FIG.
An image of the vicinity of the satellite 10 is captured by a camera or by recognizing and capturing the shape of the satellite from reflected waves generated by irradiation of radio waves, electromagnetic waves, or laser light, and sends the image to the image processing device 2. The image processing device 2 processes these image signals and sends them to the determination unit 3 as image data. Reference numeral 4 denotes a storage unit which previously stores image data near the satellite 10 as reference image data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a driving device that drives the energy emitting unit 13 and the search device 1 in conjunction with each other. Reference numeral 6 denotes a transmitting unit, which starts emitting an energy beam 30 to the satellite 10;
Send a stop signal.

In the above configuration, the image signal of the satellite 10 captured by the search device 1 is captured by the image processing device 2 and sent to the determination unit 3 as image data. The determination unit 3 fetches the reference image data stored in the storage unit 4,
The image of the satellite 10 fetched from the exploration apparatus 1 is compared with the reference image data. If there is a difference, it is determined that the energy emitting direction of the energy emitting unit 13 is displaced from the receiving equipment 20, and the transmitting unit 6 determines A signal for stopping the energy emission of the energy emitting unit 13 is transmitted to the satellite.

In this case, the determining unit 3 simultaneously sends a driving signal for correction to the satellite driving device so as to repair the positional deviation, drives the energy emitting unit 13, and sends the energy beam 30 to the receiving equipment 20. The direction of the energy emitting unit 13 is corrected so as to face.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control of the system according to the second embodiment described above. In the figure,
In step S1, a search beam 31 is emitted from the receiving facility 20 on the earth toward a satellite, and an image of the satellite 10 is captured. In S2, the image data processed by the determination unit 3 is compared with the reference image data stored in the storage unit 4 in advance to check whether there is any deviation from a predetermined power receiving course.

If there is a displacement, a signal for stopping the emission of the energy beam 30 and a signal for the displacement of the course are transmitted from the transmitter 6 to the satellite 10 in S3. Next, in S4, the determination unit 3 checks whether or not the deviation amount is within the allowable range. If the deviation amount is within the allowable range, an energy emission permission signal is transmitted to the satellite 10 at S5. If
Return to S3. On the other hand, in S3, when the satellite 10 receives the emission stop signal of the energy beam 30, the position of the energy emitting unit 3 is corrected based on the simultaneously transmitted signal of the amount of displacement.

In S6, the energy beam emitted from the satellite 10 is received by the receiving equipment 20 on the ground, and it is checked in S7 whether or not the power transmission has been completed. Return to and search again.

In the second embodiment described above,
As in the first embodiment, when the energy beam 30 is misaligned, the energy beam 30 can be detected by detecting from the earth and the emission of the energy beam 30 can be immediately stopped to avoid a dangerous state. be able to.

[0038]

The direction adjusting system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to the present invention is as follows: (1) The power from the photovoltaic power generation satellite is converted into radio wave, electromagnetic wave, light or laser light energy, and is converted into an energy beam from an energy emitting unit. An energy beam direction adjusting system for an upward transmission system, comprising: an exploration device for exploring a receiving facility on the earth from the satellite and obtaining an image signal thereof; and an image processing unit for processing an image signal from the exploration device. And a determination unit that determines a deviation in a direction of the energy beam from the image from the image processing unit to the reception facility,
A driving device for adjusting the direction of the energy emitting unit according to the determination result, wherein the determination unit compares the image from the image processing unit with reference image data on the earth previously held, If it is within a predetermined error range, the emission of the energy beam is permitted, and if it is out of the range, the energy beam from the energy emitting unit is stopped, and the driving device is controlled to adjust the direction of the energy emitting unit. It is characterized by.

With the above system, when the direction of the energy beam shifts, the emission of the beam is stopped, so that the danger of an object or a person being exposed to the energy beam can be avoided.

In (2) of the present invention, instead of capturing the receiving equipment on the earth as an image signal by a camera, for example, the exploration apparatus emits a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser light beam to generate a reflected wave from the earth. Since the position of the receiving equipment is recognized from the shape of the ground based on the reception, the positions of the energy emitting unit and the receiving equipment can be adjusted similarly to the invention of (1).

According to (3) of the present invention, a search device, an image processing unit, and a determination unit are provided in a receiving facility on the earth, search a satellite from the earth, and an energy beam emitted from an energy emitting unit of the satellite is generated. If the direction shifts without going to the receiving equipment on the earth, a signal for stopping the emission of the energy beam is sent from the determining unit to the satellite via the transmitting unit, and the energy beam is stopped, so that a dangerous state can be avoided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the exploration apparatus emits a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser beam toward the satellite, recognizes the shape of the satellite by the reflected wave from the satellite, and determines the position of the energy emitting unit. Since the confirmation is made, the position can be adjusted in the same manner as in the invention of (3).

[Brief description of the drawings]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a direction adjusting system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is an explanatory diagram for operating a search device from a satellite, and (b) is a control block diagram.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of control according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B show a direction adjusting system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram for operating an exploration device from the earth, and FIG. 3B is a control block diagram. .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a general conceptual diagram of a solar power generation satellite system.

6 is an internal block diagram of the system shown in FIG. 5,
(A) shows the inside of a satellite, and (b) shows receiving equipment on the ground.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exploration apparatus 2 Image processing apparatus 3 Judgment part 4 Storage part 5 Drive unit 6 Transmitting part 10 Solar power generation satellite 11 Photovoltaic power generation panel 12 Energy conversion part 13 Energy emission part 20 Receiving equipment 30 Energy beam 31 Exploration beam

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An energy beam direction adjusting system for converting electric power from a photovoltaic satellite into radio wave, electromagnetic wave, light or laser light energy and transmitting the energy from an energy emitting unit to the earth as an energy beam. An exploration device for exploring a receiving facility on the earth from the satellite and obtaining an image signal thereof, an image processing unit for processing an image signal from the exploration device, and the reception of the energy beam from an image from the image processing unit A determining unit for determining a deviation in the direction to the equipment;
A driving device for adjusting the direction of the energy emitting unit according to the determination result, wherein the determination unit compares the image from the image processing unit with reference image data on the earth previously held, If it is within a predetermined error range, the emission of the energy beam is permitted, and if it is out of the range, the energy beam from the energy emitting unit is stopped, and the driving device is controlled to adjust the direction of the energy emitting unit. A direction adjustment system for a solar power satellite. 2. The exploration apparatus emits a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser beam toward the earth, captures a reflected wave thereof, acquires position data on the earth, and, based on this data, determines the position by the determination unit. 2. The direction adjusting system for a photovoltaic power generation satellite according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the driving device to adjust the direction of the energy emitting unit in comparison with reference image data. 3. An energy beam direction adjusting system for converting electric power from a photovoltaic power generation satellite into radio wave, electromagnetic wave, light, or laser light energy and transmitting the energy from an energy emitting unit to the earth as an energy beam. A search device that searches the satellite from a receiving facility on the earth and obtains an image signal of the satellite, an image processing unit that processes an image signal from the search device, and the satellite of the energy beam from an image from the image processing unit A determination unit for determining a deviation in the direction to the vehicle, and a transmission unit for transmitting a signal for adjusting the direction of the energy emitting unit to the satellite based on the determination result, wherein the determination unit includes the image processing unit. The image from the unit is compared with reference image data in the vicinity of the satellite which is stored in advance, and the emission of the energy beam is permitted if the error is within a predetermined error range, and the energy is emitted if the error is out of the range. Transmitting a signal for stopping the energy beam from the launching unit to the energy emitting unit of the satellite from the transmitting unit, and controlling the direction of the energy emitting unit to be adjusted. system. 4. The exploration apparatus emits a radio wave, an electromagnetic wave, or a laser beam toward a satellite, acquires a reflected wave thereof, acquires position data of the satellite, and the determination unit determines the position of the satellite based on the position data. 4. The photovoltaic power generation satellite according to claim 3, wherein a position shift to the satellite is determined, a signal for adjusting a direction is sent from the transmitting unit to the satellite, and control is performed to adjust a direction of the energy emitting unit. Direction adjustment system.