Parametric Error Correction for Imaging Systems

Abstract

An algorithm is introduced that removes systematic distortions from imaging systems, resulting in improved attitude and orbit determination, image navigation and registration, and output image product performance from a current geosynchronous remote sensing meteorological satellite. Positive identification, predicted positioning and imaging of visible landmarks, Infrared landmarks and visible stars are greatly improved, leading to a marked augmentation of the spacecraft’s capabilities at a low engineering cost. The Parametric Systematic Error Correction (ParSEC) eliminates the effects of systematic errors and distortions in Image Navigation and Registration (INR) systems common to remote sensing missions without requiring costly engineering directed to discovering and correcting actual error sources. When integrated into a closed loop INR system, ParSEC improves observation location predictions as well as attitude and orbit determination capabilities for remote sensing satellite missions. The end image product is positively influenced, as ParSEC improves the accuracy of the coastline fixed grid overlays to better match the coastlines in the actual earth images taken by a camera on a moving satellite, demonstrated on the MTSAT-1R satellite.