Design of Miniature Space Grade Navigation Camera for Lunar Mission

Vision based navigation and path planning for the Indian Lunar Rover calls for Stereo navigation cameras. These Navcams proposed to be mounted at the front face of the Rover, give information of obstacles like boulders/ craters/ pits on the path ahead. By analyzing the scene captured by these Navcams, the trajectory of the Rover will be planned and executed. The design of a miniature Navcam to operate reliably in space environment calls for high level of integration of many systems on a single chip thus minimizing power consumption, volume and weight onboard. This paper describes the design aspects of the navigation camera which is developed at LEOS, ISRO.