Vision System for Satellite Observation in Close Quarters

The paper presents a concept and framework of a vision system for observing satellite in close quarters. The vision system uses natural features on the satellite surfaces instead of artificial markers for its operation, computes relative motion and structure of the target, and tracks features in image sequences. The vehicle equipped with the system can navigate automatically and freely around the satellite for reconnaissance and surveillance. Selected algorithms of the system have been characterized in ground environment; they are undergoing systematic sets of adaptation for space.