Experimental Validation of Combined Imaging and Vibration Mitigation for High-Altitude Platforms

Abstract

The demand for continuous, high-resolution aerial monitoring is driving interest in High- Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS), which offer a cost-effective alternative to satellites with greater flexibility. While HAPS platforms provide valuable Earth observation potential, se- lecting an optical sensor requires balancing resolution and payload constraints, given their lightweight structures. We propose a multidisciplinary concept to enhance the Earth obser- vation capabilities of HAPS using a commercially available, weight-efficient distributed camera network, combined with advanced image processing and active vibration control. A super- resolution pipeline is introduced, where images from individual cameras are preprocessed and fed into a super-resolution algorithm. The low structural rigidity of HAPS platforms increases their sensitivity to low-frequency vibrations, which must be mitigated through active control to preserve imaging performance. A nominal H-infinity mixed-sensitivity controller is designed to suppress resonance peaks at camera locations. The methodology is experimentally validated on a simplified wing platform designed for real-time testing. Quantitative evaluation based on nine metrics demonstrates significant image quality improvements, highlighting the effectiveness of H-infinity control in mitigating low-frequency elastic modes and stabilizing the platform for super- resolution. These results show that lightweight commercial sensors, combined with advanced image processing and control, can deliver high-quality imaging for future HAPS remote sensing missions.