WO2023276030A1

WO2023276030A1 - Artificial satellite control device

Info

Publication number: WO2023276030A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/024708
Authority: WO
Inventors: 華帆榊原
Original assignee: ＳｐａｃｅＥｎｔｅｒｔａｉｎｍｅｎｔ株式会社
Priority date: 2021-06-30
Filing date: 2021-06-30
Publication date: 2023-01-05

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a novel technology that uses flight by a plurality of satellites that each have a light source for entertainment. [Solution] The present invention is an artificial satellite control device that controls the plurality of artificial satellites each comprising a light source, thereby presenting different objects in a plurality of observation sites. The device according to the present invention comprises: an acquisition means that acquires image information and observation site information pertaining to the observation sites; a control signal generation means that generates a control signal for presenting a plurality of objects on the basis of the acquired observation site information and image information; and an output means that outputs the control signal.

Description

satellite controller

The present invention relates to a satellite control device that expresses a predetermined object by controlling a plurality of satellites equipped with light sources.

In recent years, various technologies using multiple satellites have been proposed.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for forming an on-orbit screen that can be viewed from the ground using a plurality of pixel satellites arranged on a satellite orbit.

Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a technology that enables observation of characters and figures by flying multiple artificial satellites in formation.

JP 2008-176250 A JP 2012-183855 A JP 2018-184080 A

The above-mentioned technology only discloses a method of displaying some kind of object (characters, graphics, etc.) using multiple artificial satellites with light sources, and it is not possible to study commercialization and control methods and operations suitable for the business. No method is disclosed.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a novel technology that utilizes flight by multiple satellites with light sources (hereinafter referred to as formation flight) in the entertainment field.

According to the invention,
A satellite control device that represents a plurality of objects at a plurality of observation locations by controlling a plurality of satellites equipped with light sources,
Acquisition means for acquiring observation location information and image information regarding the observation location;
control signal generating means for generating a control signal for expressing the plurality of objects based on the obtained observation location information and the image information;
and output means for outputting the control signal,
A satellite controller is obtained comprising:

According to the present invention, different objects can be represented for multiple observatories by controlling the irradiation direction of the light emitted from the light source by one formation flight.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the system by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing the direction of the light source of the artificial satellite in FIG. 1; It is a flow of processing of this system. It is another flow of processing of this system. It is a block diagram which shows the image outline|summary of this system.

The contents of the embodiments of the present invention are listed and explained. The present invention has the following configurations.
[Item 1]
A satellite control device that represents a plurality of objects at a plurality of observation locations by controlling a plurality of satellites equipped with light sources,
Acquisition means for acquiring observation location information and image information regarding the observation location;
control signal generating means for generating a control signal for expressing the plurality of objects based on the obtained observation location information and the image information;
and output means for outputting the control signal,
A satellite control device comprising:
[Item 2]
The satellite control device according to item 1,
The control signal generating means expresses the first object by directing the direction of the light source of the first group of satellites to the first observation site, and the second group of the satellites. generating the control signal to direct the light source of the satellite toward the second observation site to represent a second object;
Satellite controller.
[Item 3]
The satellite control device according to item 1,
The artificial satellite comprises a plurality of the light sources,
The control signal generation means generates the control signal by allowing one of the satellites to overlap the first group and the second group.
Satellite controller.
[Item 4]
The satellite control device according to any one of items 1 to 3,
The control signal generating means generates a signal for controlling the direction of the light source by changing the attitude of the artificial satellite.
Satellite controller.
[Item 5]
An artificial satellite control system having the configuration according to item 1.
[Item 6]
A satellite control program that causes the configuration according to item 1 to function in a satellite control device.
[Item 7]
An artificial satellite control method including steps having the configuration according to item 1.

<Details of Embodiment>
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Overview>
An artificial satellite control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is an artificial satellite that expresses a predetermined object in space by controlling the operation of a plurality of artificial satellites that have light sources and move on predetermined orbits while maintaining a predetermined distance from each other. It is implemented using a satellite controller. In particular, by changing the orientation of the satellite whose orientation is fixed (or by fixing the orientation of the satellite and changing only the orientation of the light source), changing the orientation of the optical axis of the light source, Different objects can be observably represented from multiple observation locations.

<Hardware configuration example>
As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a user terminal, a satellite controller, ground equipment, and a plurality of satellites. Terminals other than these may be added, or all or part of the functions of these terminals may be integrated by cloud computing technology and logically configured as one or more terminals.

A series of processes by the system and terminals described in this specification may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. It is possible to prepare a computer program for realizing each function according to the present embodiment and implement it in a PC or the like. It is also possible to provide a computer-readable recording medium storing such a computer program. The recording medium is, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a flash memory, or the like. Also, the above computer program may be distributed, for example, via a network without using a recording medium.

<User terminal>
The user terminal constitutes part of the system by executing information processing through communication with the satellite controller. Examples of user terminals include general-purpose computers such as workstations and personal computers, and mobile communication devices such as smartphone terminals and tablet terminals.

A user terminal should at least have general functions such as a processor, memory, storage, transmission/reception unit, and input/output unit. A user inputs image information to a user terminal using input means (means for operating and acquiring information such as a mouse, keyboard, touch pen, camera, scanner, etc.). The input image information is transmitted to the satellite controller via the network through the transmitting/receiving unit.

<Satellite controller>
The satellite controller constitutes a part of the system by performing information processing through communication with the user terminal and ground equipment. For example, it can be configured by any of hardware provided in a computer, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when configured by software, it is actually configured with a computer CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and is realized by running a program stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, hard disk, or semiconductor memory.

<Ground equipment>
Ground facilities programmatically control the satellites in all orbital planes. Ground equipment includes, for example, a ground antenna device, a communication device connected to the ground antenna device, a computer, and the like. A ground facility forms a formation flight by communicating with each satellite. The ground equipment has functions such as a track control signal generation unit and an analysis prediction unit. The communication device transmits and receives a signal for tracking and controlling each artificial satellite, and transmits an orbit control signal to each artificial satellite. The analysis prediction unit analyzes and predicts the orbit of the satellite. The orbit control signal generator generates an orbit control signal to be transmitted to the satellite. The trajectory control signal generation unit and the analysis prediction unit of this embodiment realize the function of formation flight.

<Satellite>
In this embodiment, 25 satellites maintaining a 5×5 matrix formation are used, but the number of satellites and the shape of the formation are not limited to this. An artificial satellite includes a light source device, a light source control device, a satellite control device, a satellite communication device, a propulsion device, an attitude control device, a power supply device, and the like. A light source device is a light emitter such as an LED light source or a laser light source. The light source control device controls the operation of the light source device. Specifically, the light source control device controls the timing of light emission, flashing, brightness, color, light emission direction (optical axis), or a combination thereof. The satellite controller includes a computer that controls the propulsion system and the attitude control system. Specifically, the satellite control device controls the propulsion device and the attitude control device according to various signals transmitted from the ground equipment. A satellite communication device communicates with a ground facility. Specifically, the satellite communication device transmits various data related to its own satellite to the ground equipment. Also, the satellite communication device receives various signals transmitted from the ground equipment. The propulsion device is a device that gives propulsion force to the artificial satellite and changes the speed of the artificial satellite. Specifically, an apogee kick motor, a chemical propulsion device, an electric propulsion device, or the like can be appropriately adopted as the propulsion device. The attitude control device controls attitude elements such as the attitude, angular velocity, and line of sight of a satellite, and changes or maintains each attitude element in a desired direction. An attitude control device includes an attitude sensor, an actuator, and a controller. The power supply device includes equipment such as a solar cell, a battery, and a power control device, and supplies power to each equipment mounted on the satellite.

<Operation input function>
Next, operations related to the input function of this system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. As described above, the system represents a given object by controlling the attitude of multiple satellites with light sources.

In particular, at observation point A, a small cross (black circle in the figure) can be observed by the light source shining on it. On the other hand, at observation site B, a diamond (black circle in the figure) can be observed. In this way, when the same formation flight is observed from different observation locations, it can be seen as different objects.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a light source A that irradiates light from a light source toward an observation location A, a light source A that irradiates light from a light source toward an observation location B, and a light source N that does not emit light exists. From the observation point A, the cross-shaped light Sa can be observed. In the figure, other members of the satellite are omitted and only the light source is shown.

The satellite control device acquires observation location information and image information regarding the observation location (step S101). The observation location may be in units of municipalities, or in units of prefectures. Image information (expressed as an object) to be observed at these observation locations is managed in association with each observation location. Subsequently, a control signal is generated so that the object is represented for each observation location. The generated control signal is output to the ground equipment and transmitted to the satellite.

The process of control signal generation will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The illustrated flow chart represents two types of objects for two observation locations. First, information on a first object (observation location A) and a second object (observation location B) is acquired. After that, the satellite required for observation at the observation site A is specified (step S202), and the direction of the light source is set based on the position (latitude and longitude) of the observation site (step S203). As a result, it is possible to express the first object at the observation site A (step S204). On the other hand, the satellite required for observation at the observation site B is specified (step S205), and the direction of the light source is set based on the position (latitude/longitude) of the observation site (step S206). As a result, it is possible to express the second object at the observation location B (step S207).

In the embodiment described above, it was assumed that the artificial satellite had only one light source. Therefore, the same figure could not be expressed in different areas. However, by mounting a plurality of light sources on the artificial satellite, one of them irradiates light on the observation site A and the other irradiates light on the observation site B, so that different Or it becomes possible to express the same object.

In the embodiment described above, by controlling the attitude of the artificial satellite whose direction of the light source is fixed, the optical axis is directed toward the observation site. According to such a configuration, an artificial satellite with a fixed light source can be used without preparing a structure for driving the light source. On the other hand, by controlling the light source driving section of the artificial satellite having a structure for driving the light source, the optical axis may be directed toward the observation site without controlling (or changing) the attitude of the artificial satellite. This eliminates the use of a propulsion device for controlling the attitude of the satellite. Furthermore, both the attitude of the artificial satellite and the light source driver may be controlled by the required amount.

The processes described using the flowcharts in this specification do not necessarily have to be executed in the illustrated order. Some processing steps may be performed in parallel. Also, additional processing steps may be employed, and some processing steps may be omitted.

The embodiments described above may be combined as appropriate and implemented. Also, the effects described herein are merely illustrative or exemplary, and are not limiting. In other words, the technology according to the present disclosure can produce other effects that are obvious to those skilled in the art from the description of this specification, in addition to or instead of the above effects.

Claims

A satellite control device that represents a plurality of objects at a plurality of observation locations by controlling a plurality of satellites equipped with light sources,
Acquisition means for acquiring observation location information and image information regarding the observation location;
control signal generating means for generating a control signal for expressing the plurality of objects based on the obtained observation location information and the image information;
and output means for outputting the control signal,
A satellite control device comprising:
The satellite control device according to claim 1,
The control signal generating means expresses the first object by directing the direction of the light source of the first group of satellites to the first observation site, and the second group of the satellites. generating the control signal to direct the light source of the satellite toward the second observation site to represent a second object;
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to claim 1,
The artificial satellite comprises a plurality of the light sources,
The control signal generation means generates the control signal by allowing one of the satellites to overlap the first group and the second group.
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control signal generating means generates a signal for controlling the direction of the light source by changing the attitude of the artificial satellite.
Satellite controller.