Our laboratory is closely related to the actual projects of scientific satellites and spacecrafts (Hisaki, Arase, SLIM, etc.), where we run a cycle of development and research activities. In a narrow sense, on-board computers, sensors, and data networks are the scope of our field, but we are conducting joint research with researchers in various fields inside and outside ISAS on the technology and architecture of satellites and spacecraft buses.

We are conducting research on navigation sensors necessary for pinpoint landing on gravitational bodies. For image navigation using an optical camera, we are developing a method for autonomously estimating the spacecraft position on board by extracting surface landmarks (craters, etc.) and matching them with a database. As for the landing radar, we are conducting research on velocity measurement of a pulsed Doppler radar with a spread beam, and development of a Doppler simulator. These results will be demonstrated on the small lunar lander SLIM, which is currently being prepared for launch. Looking toward the future, we are conducting research on the application of neuromorphic sensors and processors to the optical navigation.

We are continuously researching remote sensing using microwaves, especially Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Focusing on radar signal fluctuations such as speckles and non-Gaussian textures, our laboratory is characterized by attempts to extract target information from these fluctuations under high-resolution systems. We are also researching remote sensing using GPS reflected waves.