SCo-Cloud: Satellite Constellation Collaboration for Cloud-Aware Onboard-Computed Imaging and Transmission

Satellite-acquired optical remote sensing imagery is extensively applied in time-critical applications like traffic surveillance and evaluation of natural disasters. However, clouds, as a common atmospheric phenomenon, frequently obscure observation. Current approaches aim to restore visibility in cloud-obscured regions, yet they typically fall short in the presence of dense cloud cover, which are exceedingly prevalent in remote sensing imagery. Alternative approaches rely on the satellite revisit cycle, frequently surpassing ten days, a duration impractical for genuine application scenarios due to target changes and bandwidth limitations. To address these issues, this paper proposes SCo-Cloud, a novel satellite constellation collaboration framework for cloud-aware onboard-computed imaging and transmission, which consists of Center-Sat and Edge-Sats. We propose onboard thin cloud removal and re-imaging region location models to locate the impact of clouds. We further design a novel multi-satellite scheduling strategy to eliminate clouds. The models above are integrated within the Center-Sat, with the nearby Edge-Sats collaborating in tandem to execute re-imaging assignments. Furthermore, to facilitate in-depth research, we have meticulously developed a cloud-covered target detection dataset. Comprehensive experiments have conclusively demonstrated that SCo-Cloud effectively surpasses the limitations inherent in current approaches, providing accurate and timely responses within the domain of Earth observation.