LIDAR pointing and parameters control for close proximity operations with uncooperative target

This paper presents a strategy to adaptively select the field of view and the resolution of a scanning LIDAR in the frame of close-proximity operations with non-cooperative space targets. Specifically, the idea is to relate the selection of these operational parameters to the estimated target-chaser relative distance as well as to the size occupied by the target in the sensor field of view, with the goal to improve the performance of the relative navigation system. The proposed method is supported by a chaser attitude control strategy which allows keeping the sensor boresight axis always pointed towards the center of mass of the target. The performance achieved by the adoption of this strategy is evaluated by simulating two types of close-range trajectories in a numerical simulation environment which reproduces both the operation of a scanning LIDAR and the relative motion between two spacecraft.