High-performance image acquisition & processing unit fabricated using COTS technologies

It is becoming imperative to have visual capabilities for space activities. There are increasing opportunities to use visual images coupled with image processing technologies for spacecraft sensing and control. To fill this need, we have developed a small, low-cost, high-performance image acquisition and processing unit (HP-IMAP), which uses commercial off-the-shelf technologies. In 2010, the HP-IMAP was launched to monitor a deployable structure. Herein, we describe the HP-IMAP and discuss its qualification tests.