Sun sensor calibration algorithms: A systematic mapping and survey

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Herman, Michael, Fischer, Olivia J. Pinon, Mavris, Dimitri N.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Herman, Michael
Fischer, Olivia J. Pinon
Mavris, Dimitri N.
author_facet Herman, Michael
Fischer, Olivia J. Pinon
Mavris, Dimitri N.
contents Attitude sensors determine the spacecraft attitude through the sensing of an astronomical object, field or other phenomena. The Sun and fixed stars are the two primary astronomical sensing objects. Attitude sensors are critical components for the survival and knowledge improvement of spacecraft. Of these, sun sensors are the most common and important sensor for spacecraft attitude determination. The sun sensor measures the Sun vector in spacecraft coordinates. The sun sensor calibration process is particularly difficult due to the complex nature of the uncertainties involved. The uncertainties are small, difficult to observe, and vary spatio-temporally over the lifecycle of the sensor. In addition, the sensors are affected by numerous sources of uncertainties, including manufacturing, electrical, environmental, and interference sources. This motivates the development of advanced calibration algorithms to minimize uncertainty over the sensor lifecycle and improve accuracy. Although modeling and calibration techniques for sun sensors have been explored extensively in the literature over the past two decades, there is currently no resource that consolidates and systematically reviews this body of work. The present review proposes a systematic mapping of sun sensor modeling and calibration algorithms across a breadth of sensor configurations. It specifically provides a comprehensive survey of each methodology, along with an analysis of research gaps and recommendations for future directions in sun sensor modeling and calibration techniques.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_21541
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Sun sensor calibration algorithms: A systematic mapping and survey
Herman, Michael
Fischer, Olivia J. Pinon
Mavris, Dimitri N.
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Attitude sensors determine the spacecraft attitude through the sensing of an astronomical object, field or other phenomena. The Sun and fixed stars are the two primary astronomical sensing objects. Attitude sensors are critical components for the survival and knowledge improvement of spacecraft. Of these, sun sensors are the most common and important sensor for spacecraft attitude determination. The sun sensor measures the Sun vector in spacecraft coordinates. The sun sensor calibration process is particularly difficult due to the complex nature of the uncertainties involved. The uncertainties are small, difficult to observe, and vary spatio-temporally over the lifecycle of the sensor. In addition, the sensors are affected by numerous sources of uncertainties, including manufacturing, electrical, environmental, and interference sources. This motivates the development of advanced calibration algorithms to minimize uncertainty over the sensor lifecycle and improve accuracy. Although modeling and calibration techniques for sun sensors have been explored extensively in the literature over the past two decades, there is currently no resource that consolidates and systematically reviews this body of work. The present review proposes a systematic mapping of sun sensor modeling and calibration algorithms across a breadth of sensor configurations. It specifically provides a comprehensive survey of each methodology, along with an analysis of research gaps and recommendations for future directions in sun sensor modeling and calibration techniques.
title Sun sensor calibration algorithms: A systematic mapping and survey
topic Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.21541