Falcon Neuro: an event-based sensor on the International Space Station

Abstract

We report on the Falcon neuro event-based sensor (EBS) instrument that is designed to acquire data from lightning and sprite phenomena and is currently operating on the International Space Station. The instrument consists of two independent, identical EBS cameras pointing in two fixed directions, toward the nominal forward direction of flight and toward the nominal Nadir direction. The payload employs stock DAVIS 240C focal plane arrays along with custom-built control and readout electronics to remotely interface with the cameras. To predict the sensor's ability to effectively record sprites and lightning, we explore temporal response characteristics of the DAVIS 240C and use lab measurements along with reported limitations to model the expected response to a characteristic sprite illumination time-series. These simulations indicate that with appropriate camera settings the instrument will be capable of capturing these transient luminous events when they occur. Finally, we include initial results from the instrument, representing the first reported EBS recordings successfully collected aboard a space-based platform and demonstrating proof of concept that a neuromorphic camera is capable of operating in the space environment.