Event-Based Vision Sensor Lifetime Degradation in Low Earth Orbit

Area of Science:

• Space Science
• Sensor Technology
• Radiation Effects

Background:

• Event-based Vision Sensors (EVS) offer unique advantages over traditional cameras.
• Previous studies on EVS radiation degradation were limited to ground-based experiments.
• The Falcon Neuro payload deployed the first operational EVS in orbit.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of space radiation on EVS performance.
• To evaluate the durability of DAVIS 240C EVS in an uncontrolled orbital environment.
• To establish a baseline for EVS radiation tolerance in space.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Falcon Neuro payload on the International Space Station (ISS) from January 2022 to September 2024.
• Analyzed data from both Earth-facing and space-facing DAVIS 240C EVS.
• Employed unique features within EVS data to track degradation across 18 different measures.

Main Results:

• Minimal degradation observed across most measured parameters over the mission duration.
• Only one of the 18 analyzed measures showed a convincing deterioration trend.
• Demonstrated the resilience of EVS pixel circuits to space radiation and environmental factors.

Conclusions:

• DAVIS 240C Event-based Vision Sensors exhibit high aptitude for surviving long-term space flight.
• The findings support the use of EVS in future space missions requiring robust vision systems.
• This study provides critical real-world data on EVS radiation tolerance in orbit.