Small space target detection using megapixel resolution CeleX-V camera

Abstract

An event camera (EC) is a bioinspired vision sensor with the advantages of a high temporal resolution, high dynamic range, and low latency. Due to the inherent sparsity of space target imaging data, EC becomes an ideal imaging sensor for space target detection. In this work, we conduct detection of small space targets using a CeleX-V camera with a megapixel resolution. We propose a target detection method based on field segmentation, utilizing the event output characteristics of an EC. This method enables real-time monitoring of the spatial positions of space targets within the camera’s field of view. The effectiveness of this approach is validated through experiments involving real-world observations of space targets. Using the proposed method, real-time observation of space targets with a megapixel resolution EC becomes feasible, demonstrating substantial practical potential in the field of space target detection.