Optimal Design of Flexible Imaging Modes for Agile Optical Remote Sensing Satellites

Abstract. By utilizing their ability to maneuver along the three axes of roll, pitch and yaw, agile satellites can point quickly at the imaging area and control the optical axis of the satellite sweep in a specific manner, thus achieve a flexible imaging work mode, which can greatly enhance the mission execution ability of the satellite, and give full play to the satellite's efficiency. Optical remote sensing satellites using dynamic imaging modes have more complex and diverse imaging modes, and the number of imaging parameters that can be combined and selected significantly increases. On the one hand, users hope that imaging quality parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and modulation transfer function (MTF) can meet the requirements of subsequent data applications. On the other hand, users also hope that satellite imaging efficiency can be as high as possible to meet the needs of high timeliness and rapid response of satellites. It can be seen that imaging quality and imaging efficiency are mutually constrained, and it is particularly important to strike a balance to achieve the optimal comprehensive imaging efficiency.
In this paper, a comprehensive imaging performance evaluation function and an imaging mode and parameter optimization design strategy based on this function is proposed. We hope this paper could provide valuable reference for the design of imaging mode of agile optical remote sensing satellites.