Stitch?Free Panoramic Sensor Network for Real?Time Space Domain Awareness and Anomaly Detection

Circle Optics proposes O.R.B.I.T.A.L. (Omnidirectional Real-time Bubble for In-situ Traffic Awareness & Logistics), a novel stitch-free panoramic sensor network designed to enhance Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and address the "last-meter awareness" gap in In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) environments. Current sensing architectures struggle with blind spots and latency in dense orbital operations. O.R.B.I.T.A.L. offers a solution by providing seamless 360x120-degree situational awareness with centimeter-scale resolution at 150 meters and sub-second latencies, even with onboard AI for anomaly interrogation with sub-millimeter detail.The core technology utilizes a patented compound-eye architecture that delivers distortion-free, high-resolution panoramic images without the need for computationally intensive stitching, enabling real-time performance. This plug-and-play camera pod for free-flying vehicles networks with nearby pods to create a comprehensive "traffic-control bubble" around orbital worksites, preventing collisions and streamlining operations.For defense, O.R.B.I.T.A.L. supports U.S. Space Force missions in SDA, Space Access, Mobility & Logistics (SAML), and Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance & Tracking (TacSRT) by providing real-time proximity intelligence and autonomous collision-avoidance cues. It flags objects ?10 cm out to 1 km in 0.5 seconds, offering critical operational margins. The system's low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) design and mesh-networked swarm architecture enable rapid, affordable proliferation. Expected benefits for DAF end-users include up to 75% reduction in close-approach incidents and 20-30% savings in maneuvering propellant during docking.Commercially, the technology is applicable to virtual reality training, drone-based situational awareness, counter-UAS operations, and persistent wide-area aerial coverage. In the space sector, O.R.B.I.T.A.L. can reduce hull-insurance premiums for GEO communication satellites by approximately 40%, translating to significant annual savings for commercial depots. Circle Optics has demonstrated early commercial uptake with over $400k in revenue from pilot engagements in immersive media and autonomous vehicle applications.The proposed Phase II effort aims to develop an enhanced prototype with new edge software and data-fusion algorithms, optimizing for near-space imaging with resolutions of ~5mm at 500ft and ~2.5in at 2km. The system is adaptable with space-qualified packaging and electronics, and its core panoramic imaging function remains unchanged. The project will advance the sensor to TRL-6, preparing it for CubeSat integration and on-orbit demonstration via rideshare.