Revelio: An Autonomous High Dynamic Range Camera for Polar Science and Exploration

The lunar poles are highly desirable target regions for both science and exploration, and are the focus of many recently discussed LDEP mission concepts. Due to low solar elevation and the resulting extremes between lighted and shadowed regions, the terrain surrounding a landing site would present scenes with a large range of radiance in the visible wavelengths. This requires an imager that is sensitive to such extremes. In addition, due to the short nature of some of these missions (~14 days), a high degree of autonomy is necessary to minimize the time of humans in the loop. An ideal visible imaging sensor would accommodate all these factors while minimizing size, weight, power, and data volume, in order to prevent dominating requirements for a mission concept of operations. Revelio is a prototype visible wavelength camera combining a high dynamic range and sensitivity sensor with autonomous code for controlling gain levels and exposure time. We propose to bring Revelio to a TRL 6 prototype ready to propose to a flight mission. Dr. R. Aileen Yingst will serve as Science PI for this work. Dr. Yingst is the PI for the Heimdall camera system currently slated to fly as part of the CLPS program; she also serves as Deputy PI for the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover. She has 25 years experience investigating and interpreting geologic processes from images at multiple scales and wavelengths, including the lunar Clementine and LRO missions. Additionally, she has a decade of experience optimizing science operations for lunar and Mars missions, including serving as PI for GHOST lunar and martian field analog tests. Dr. Yingst will start in year one with flowing science requirements into design from the initial trade study. This will involve working closely with the Ball instrument team to define what specifications are necessary to satisfy science requirements and the instrument/lander concept of operations. Using the instrument design, Dr. Yingst will make model predictions of Revelio performance using current understanding of the behavior of lunar materials. In year two, once initial instrument performance is assessed after assembly and alignment, Dr. Yingst will refine the model predictions. Dr. Yingst will then participate in a final trade study based on instrument performance/environmental testing to ultimately determine the design for a variety of lander missions. Dr. Yingst will provide input for how different lander mission concept of operations may affect the design and scientific goals.