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A Real-Time 3D Laser Tracking and Imaging System developed jointly with Neptec

NRC Institute for Information Technology (IIT) researchers have developed a prototype laser-based 3D camera that can automatically track moving targets and operate under the extreme lighting conditions found in space. This scientific breakthrough is the result of sustained and intensive research in laser scanning technology for space applications.

The technology has been transferred to Neptec, an Ottawa-based company specializing in mission-critical space applications, with which NRC has a long history of collaboration. Based on the strength of NRC's laser tracking technology, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) awarded Neptec a contract to develop a space-qualified version of the laser scanner prototype.

In less than a year, NRC's laser tracking system has been integrated into Neptec's flagship product, the Space Vision System (SVS), a key component in the assembly of the International Space Station. Neptec president Paul Nephin reports that the company has high expectations: "We have identified well over $100 million in opportunities that the company will be able to address using the NRC-IIT laser technology."

Figure 1: NRC's First Prototype of the Space Laser Tracking System

Background

In the late 1980s, Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean envisioned a laser camera for space exploration. Since then, a team of researchers in NRC-IIT's Visual Information Technologies (VIT) group has directed its efforts towards achieving this goal. As such, the late 1980s marked the beginning of NRC-IIT's prolonged research in support of space exploration, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Neptec Design Group.

Neptec Design Group - whose corporate headquarters are in Kanata, with a subsidiary, Neptec International, located adjacent to NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas - supplies mission critical equipment to the aerospace and defense industries. The company is a member of the 16-nation team working to build the International Space Station. Neptec's flagship technology - the Space Vision System (SVS) - is supplied to CSA and NASA and is used by astronauts on the space shuttle. It has become a key component in the assembly of the International Space Station.

The existing Neptec SVS uses video cameras and photogrammetry-based methods to compute in real time the position and orientation of objects, such as satellites or elements of the International Space Station. On one hand, video camera-based systems are attractive because of their ease of use, low maintenance and simple integration with existing equipment. However, they are also limited because of the adverse effect of strong sources of light (like the sun) on the quality of conventional methods that rely on standard video images. Camera saturation, insufficient light and shadows are serious problems that limit the normal operation of conventional video-based vision systems.

Figure 2:
Click on the image for a larger view

Meanwhile, NRC-IIT researchers successfully demonstrated major advances in the use of laser scanner technologies for space applications in the early 1990s.

This prototype attracted the interest of NASA as early as 1995. An additional demonstration of the system's imaging module on the Orbiter Docking System at the Kennedy Space Center in early 1996 further convinced NASA of its usability. The goal of this test was to evaluate the technology in tasks that will ease the documentation, assembly, and inspection of the international space station.

Figure 3: NRC Team members scanning the ODS at KSC in 1996

Figure 4: High Resolution 3D Image of Top Portion of the ODS

Sustained research in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Neptec led to significant improvements to the system, particularly in the tracking module. The system was again demonstrated to NASA in 1999. As a result, NASA gave the green light to perform an on-orbit test of the technology. In turn, this led to the CSA and Neptec developing a space-qualified version of the laser scanner prototype for testing on the August 2001 space shuttle mission.

The Canadian Space Agency awarded Neptec the contract to develop the camera. Neptec signed a collaborative agreement with NRC-IIT in 1999 to transfer the technology, which began in June 2000 and was completed in April 2001.

After first completing successful integration tests between the NRC laser tracking system and the Space Vision System, Neptec built a space qualified laser camera in less than a year that is responsive to the harsh environment and stringent requirements of space. The new Neptec Laser Scanner Camera has already undergone vibration testing. The camera head is fully contained, including the entire electronics, optics, laser source and processing computer required for real-time operation.

Figure 5: Neptec's Flight Model of the Space Vision 3D Laser Camera System (SVLCS)	Figure 6: Neptec's SVLCS beeing installed into the Space Shuttle
Figure 7: View of the cargo bay showing the location of the SVLCS

The new camera was installed and tested on the space shuttle on August 2001 (mission STS 105). The on-orbit testing program included acquisition of both real time tracking data and high-resolution images of elements of the International Space Station.

The development of this new technology is significant for several reasons. It represents a new multi-million dollar business opportunity for a Canadian company, Neptec; it stands to improve the efficiency of the Space Station assembly; and it will provide new geometric documentation and inspection capabilities.