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Specific features of the space industry

Vision systems for the space industry are essential, highly specialized tools designed to operate in extreme environments and perform specific tasks related to the exploration and use of space. Here are just a few of the notable features of these systems:

  1. High resolution and sensitivity: Cameras used in space must be able to capture very high resolution images to enable detailed analysis of celestial bodies, planetary surfaces and other space phenomena. Sensitivity to particular light spectra, including infrared or ultraviolet, is also crucial for observing features not visible to the naked eye.

  2. Robustness to extreme conditions: These systems must withstand extreme conditions such as very low or very high temperatures, intense radiation, and the vacuum of space. This calls for special materials and technologies to protect sensitive components.

  3. Reliability and autonomy: In an environment where human intervention is limited, reliability is crucial. Space vision systems must be able to operate autonomously, with built-in diagnostic and error-correction capabilities to ensure continuous operation without direct supervision.

  4. Minimizing energy consumption: Energy management is a major concern in spacecraft, as energy is a finite resource. Vision systems must therefore be designed to consume as little energy as possible, while maintaining optimum performance.

  5. On-board processing capabilities: Because of communication delays between Earth and spacecraft, it is often necessary for these systems to process images on site to make rapid decisions, such as during landing maneuvers or navigation around obstacles.

  6. Integration with other space systems: Vision systems often need to be integrated with other on-board instruments and systems, such as geophysical sensors or navigation systems, requiring a high degree of compatibility and standardized communication interfaces.

  7. Adaptability and scalability: As technology advances and space missions become increasingly complex, these systems must also be scalable and adaptable to meet the needs of new missions and scientific experiments.

In short, vision systems for the space industry are advanced and sophisticated tools, designed to meet the unique challenges of the space environment and play a crucial role in the success of space missions.

Nexvision's expertise

Nexvision’s added value lies in the design of observation payloads for nano and micro satellites (GSD < 1m, Swath ≃ 8kms):

  • Complex image processing and analysis acquisition boards including very high-resolution multispectral image sensors (chip) and the latest radiation-tolerant SoC components (FPGA/CPU/GPU/MANY CORE), integrated around optics.
  • Development of on-board algorithms for push-frame observation satellites.

Customers and completed projects

Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES)

  • DARWIN : Demonstrator for a push-frame satellite payload for remote sensing of the earth with onboard image processing (image sensor and high end FPGA processing board)
  • ISAAC : Engineering Model (EM) electronic board for a push-frame or push-broom payload for remote sensing of the earth with a latest FPGA system on chip (SoC), including onboard image processing and AI analysis
  • All in one board : image sensors interface, processing, analysis, compression, storage, transmission, power regulation


Thales Alenia Space (TAS)

  • Stabilizing ADC sub-system


Partners
:

  • STEEL ELECTRONIQUE
  • PYXALIS