A system 100 for detecting objects 103 in space includes an array of satellite nodes 101 and a control module 105. The nodes comprise at least one transmitter module (107, fig.3) for transmitting an electromagnetic signal, and a plurality of receiver modules (109, fig.3) for receiving diffractions from electromagnetic waves scattered from objects in space. The control module focuses the receiver modules to receive diffractions from a focused virtual aperture in space and may include a beam-former. Each node forms part of an antenna array and the control module may process the received signals relating to the diffractions, using phased array processing techniques, to focus the antenna beam or sweep it across an area and possibly tracking detected objects. The nodes may have lasers which the control module may fire to impart momentum to other nodes to control their relative positions thus altering the position of the node in the array and hence the array factor. Alternatively the system includes an imaging module to assess a target object based on the signals received from the plurality of antenna elements, or an imaging unit for generating an image of a target object from the diffractions received at the receivers.
Apparatus and method for monitoring objects in space
2018-10-10
Patent
Electronic Resource
English