WO2023276031A1

WO2023276031A1 - Artificial satellite control device

Info

Publication number: WO2023276031A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/024709
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 new technology for utilizing formation flight of a plurality of artificial satellites having light sources in the entertainment field. [Solution] The present invention is an artificial satellite control device which controls a plurality of artificial satellites provided with light sources and moving on predetermined orbits while maintaining predetermined spaces between each other thereby representing a predetermined object at a place of observation. The satellite control device comprises: an orbit management means which manages the respective orbits of the plurality of artificial satellites; a separation detection means which detects separation from the orbits; an evaluation means which evaluates the degrees of separation; and a control signal generation means which generates a control signal for executing predetermined correction processing according to a result of the evaluation.

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 predetermined object at an observation site by controlling a plurality of satellites equipped with light sources and moving on a predetermined orbit while maintaining a predetermined distance from each other,
Orbit management means for managing the orbits of each of the plurality of artificial satellites;
deviation detection means for detecting deviation from the trajectory;
evaluation means for evaluating the degree of deviation;
a control signal generation means for generating a control signal for performing a predetermined correction process according to the result of the evaluation;
A satellite controller is obtained.

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. It is a 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 predetermined object at an observation site by controlling a plurality of satellites equipped with light sources and moving on a predetermined orbit while maintaining a predetermined distance from each other,
Orbit management means for managing the orbits of each of the plurality of artificial satellites;
deviation detection means for detecting deviation from the trajectory;
evaluation means for evaluating the degree of deviation;
a control signal generation means for generating a control signal for performing a predetermined correction process according to the result of the evaluation;
Satellite controller.
[Item 2]
The satellite control device according to item 1,
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for returning the artificial satellite that has deviated from the orbit to its original orbit.
Satellite controller.
[Item 3]
The satellite control device according to item 1,
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for newly setting the orbit of each of the artificial satellites.
Satellite controller.
[Item 4]
The satellite control device according to any one of items 1 to 3,
The control signal generating means generates the control signal such that different correction processes are performed for the artificial satellites required to be represented as the object and for the artificial satellites not required to be represented as the object. do,
Satellite controller.
[Item 5]
The satellite control device according to any one of items 1 to 3,
The control signal generating means generates the control signal for performing the correction process only on the artificial satellite required to be represented as the object.
Satellite controller.
[Item 6]
The satellite control device according to any one of items 1 to 5,
The evaluation means notifies that the object cannot be expressed when the degree of deviation exceeds a predetermined range.
Satellite controller.
[Item 7]
The satellite control device according to any one of items 1 to 6,
If the degree of deviation exceeds a predetermined range, the evaluation means proposes to express another object.
Satellite controller.
[Item 8]
An artificial satellite control system having the configuration according to item 1.
[Item 9]
A satellite control program that causes the configuration described in item 1 to function in a satellite control device.
[Item 10]
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, Objects can be observably represented from any desired viewing location. In such a system, it is important that each artificial satellite is positioned on the intended orbit, and if the satellite deviates from the orbit, the shape of the represented object changes significantly. Therefore, the orbit of each artificial satellite is managed, deviation from the orbit is detected, and correction is performed depending on the degree of deviation that hinders object representation.

<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 to the satellite and changes the speed of the 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.

<Action>
Next, the operation of this system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. As described above, this system expresses a given object by controlling the attitudes of a plurality of artificial satellites equipped with light sources and performing formation flights on given orbits while maintaining a given distance from each other. Furthermore, it is for managing each artificial satellite orbit.

In the present embodiment, by using the light source units of a plurality of artificial satellites, still images or moving images including graphics, characters, symbols, signs, signals, pictures, patterns, colors, etc., can be expressed as described later. It becomes possible to

It is also possible to express predetermined information like a two-dimensional barcode, depending on the position and the number of irradiation lights of the artificial satellite according to this embodiment. Also, by changing the timing of irradiation, it is possible to provide signal information containing more information. Furthermore, by relatively moving the artificial satellite (attitude control and continuing to irradiate the same irradiation area, etc.), it is possible to express an arbitrary pattern by adjusting the exposure time on the ground.

As shown in FIG. 2, the satellite control device manages each of the orbits of a plurality of satellites by using storage means, tracking means, etc., which store in advance (step S101). Further, the satellite control means detects whether or not each satellite has deviated from an appropriate orbit using GPS information or the like (step S103). When the deviation is detected, the degree of the deviation is evaluated (step S103), and a control signal for performing a predetermined correction process is generated according to the evaluation result (step S104).

　The control signal is generated by the control signal generating means to return the satellite that has deviated from the orbit to its original orbit, and transmits it via the ground equipment. As a result, the satellite that has deviated can be restored to its original orbit.

On the other hand, when the degree of divergence is large, the satellite control device may generate a control signal for newly setting the orbit of each satellite. This is because, depending on the number of satellites that have deviated from their orbits, it may be more efficient to set new orbits for all the satellites in formation flight.

It should be noted that the control signal generating means described above may perform different correction processing for artificial satellites that use light sources to express objects and artificial satellites that do not use light sources. That is, an artificial satellite having a light source used to represent an object may be corrected to restore its orbit, or a new orbit may be set. As a result, it is possible to maintain a predetermined positional relationship only with such artificial satellites.

It should be noted that the evaluation means may notify a predetermined administrator or the like that the object cannot be expressed when the degree of deviation from the satellite's orbit exceeds a predetermined range. For example, if an event or the like is planned to represent an object using an artificial satellite, cancellation of the event can be considered at an early stage.

In addition, the evaluation means may propose to express another object when the degree of deviation from the satellite's orbit exceeds a predetermined range. In other words, the pattern of objects and the number and arrangement of satellites to be used are managed in advance in a database or the like in association with each other, and objects that can be represented only by satellites in appropriate orbits are extracted from the database or the like. good too.

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 necessary 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 predetermined object at an observation site by controlling a plurality of satellites equipped with light sources and moving on a predetermined orbit while maintaining a predetermined distance from each other,
Orbit management means for managing the orbits of each of the plurality of artificial satellites;
deviation detection means for detecting deviation from the trajectory;
evaluation means for evaluating the degree of deviation;
a control signal generation means for generating a control signal for performing a predetermined correction process according to the result of the evaluation;
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to claim 1,
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for returning the artificial satellite that has deviated from the orbit to its original orbit.
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to claim 1,
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for newly setting the orbit of each of the artificial satellites.
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control signal generating means generates the control signal such that different correction processes are performed for the artificial satellites required to be represented as the object and for the artificial satellites not required to be represented as the object. do,
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control signal generating means generates the control signal for performing the correction process only on the artificial satellite required to be represented as the object.
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The evaluation means notifies that the object cannot be expressed when the degree of deviation exceeds a predetermined range.
Satellite controller.
The satellite control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
If the degree of deviation exceeds a predetermined range, the evaluation means proposes to express another object.
Satellite controller.