Autonomous SSA Bodyguard Onboard Satellite

ongoing

BODYGUARD aims to develop building blocks for autonomous SSA capabilities onboard satellites. The included studies will address both use cases of hosted SSA-payload as well dedicated guardian satellites. A sensory system will be designed to detect incoming threats in far and close distances. Onboard processing system will be designed to enable fully autonomous AI-based threat detection, identification, tracking, maneuver recognition and self-protecting action decisions. Countermeasure robotics will be designed to handle physically attacking threat with resilience added to equipment like optics and comms to ensure partial operation under engaged distant threat. This project will complement previous EDF SSA projects by autonomous onboard SSA systems developments, empowered by AI for self-protection needs. BODYGUARD will be able to classify the types of manoeuvres being made from far distance thus rising an alarm early. In close proximity, it can detect weak-points of the threat satellite and counteract with a robot or laser. Detection is accomplished using AI onboard processing from multiple sensor inputs, including highly sensitive optical greyscale and IR cameras with various FOVs, laser ranging and LiDAR systems. Self-protection actions are based on high-intensity laser beam, microwave and high-voltage applications as well as a micro-robot that rendezvous to a weak spot of the threat satellite to disable it. The EDF-2023-RA-SPACE-PSA grant allows to perform knowledge generation, studies and design activities. Therefore BODYGUARD will accomplish development-targeted research activities up to TRL4 and TRL5. Technology concept studies through this project will lead to deeper competency in SSA sensors, detection capabilities and protective actions to be taken (e.g. designing autonomous sensors with AI-processing that can be added to GEO-satellite or its In-Orbit-Servicing module and will alarm host satellite about approaching threats).