An airborne optoelectronic pod infrared sensor calibration method and system

Abstract

This invention provides a method and system for calibrating an infrared sensor in an airborne optoelectronic pod. The method includes: when the pod system completes initialization or the infrared sensor is powered on again after being powered off, the infrared sensor activates its cooling function according to a received power-on command; after cooling, the current pitch angle is recorded as the initial pitch angle, and a servo control unit drives the turret to rotate upwards to a predetermined angle while maintaining the azimuth angle; the system control management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle; if not, the servo control unit continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle; if the predetermined angle has been reached, the system control management unit sends an infrared background calibration command for background calibration; after the infrared sensor background calibration is completed, the servo control unit rotates the turret to the initial pitch angle and reports the calibration completion to the pod system. This solution not only avoids adding hardware inside the pod but also reduces the requirements for the calibration background.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of sensor calibration technology, and in particular relates to a method and system for calibrating infrared sensors in an airborne optoelectronic pod. Background Technology

[0002] Airborne infrared sensor calibration methods can generally be divided into background calibration and baffle calibration. Baffle calibration usually requires the addition of corresponding hardware inside the optical system or the addition of a baffle retraction device to the outside to achieve sensor calibration, which leads to a corresponding increase in the size and weight of the optoelectronic pod. Background calibration requires a uniform background within the field of view, with a cloudless sky as the standard background. However, when the airborne pod is in flight, it is easily affected by factors such as the viewing angle and the obstruction of the aircraft body, and it is difficult to find a cloudless sky background, making the calibration conditions too stringent. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for calibrating an infrared sensor in an airborne optoelectronic pod, which solves the problem that existing airborne pod infrared sensor calibration requires additional hardware and has relatively stringent calibration conditions.

[0004] In a first aspect of the present invention, a method for calibrating an infrared sensor in an airborne optoelectronic pod is provided, comprising:

[0005] When the pod system completes initialization or the infrared sensor is powered off and then powered on again, the infrared sensor will activate its cooling function according to the received power-on command.

[0006] After the infrared sensor has cooled down, the current pitch angle is recorded as the initial pitch angle. The servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to the predetermined angle and keeps the azimuth angle unchanged.

[0007] The system control and management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control and management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction.

[0008] After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control turret rotates to the initial pitch angle and sends feedback to the pod system that the correction is complete.

[0009] In a second aspect of the present invention, an airborne optoelectronic pod infrared sensor calibration system is provided, comprising:

[0010] System control and management unit: used to manage servo control units and sensor control units, send control commands, and receive control feedback information;

[0011] Servo control unit: used for servo control of turret movement;

[0012] Sensor control unit: Used to control the infrared sensor, control the switching of the infrared sensor state, and feed back the control results to the system control management unit;

[0013] The cache unit is used to store the current pitch angle of the turret;

[0014] When the pod system completes initialization or the infrared sensor is powered off and then powered on again, the system control management unit sends a power-on command to the infrared sensor, and the sensor control unit controls the activation of the infrared sensor's cooling function.

[0015] After the infrared sensor has cooled down, the buffer unit records the current pitch angle as the initial pitch angle, and the servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to the predetermined angle while keeping the azimuth angle unchanged.

[0016] The system control and management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control and management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction.

[0017] After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control unit drives the turret to rotate to the initial pitch angle and sends feedback to the pod system that the correction is complete.

[0018] In this embodiment of the invention, by combining turret servo control with background noise correction, the correction of the airborne pod infrared sensor is realized. This not only eliminates the need for additional hardware components, avoiding an increase in the size and weight of the pod, but also reduces the requirements for the correction scene and minimizes the impact of the background on the correction process. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an infrared sensor calibration method for an airborne optoelectronic pod, provided as an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is another schematic flowchart illustrating an airborne optoelectronic pod infrared sensor calibration method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an airborne optoelectronic pod infrared sensor calibration system provided in one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this invention more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0024] It should be understood that the terms "comprising" and other similar expressions in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such as a process, method, system, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units and is not limited to the listed steps or units. Furthermore, "first" and "second" are used to distinguish different objects and are not intended to describe a specific order.

[0025] Please see Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an airborne optoelectronic pod infrared sensor calibration method provided in this embodiment of the invention includes:

[0026] S101. When the pod system completes initialization or the infrared sensor is powered off and then powered on again, the infrared sensor starts its cooling function according to the received power-on command.

[0027] The pod system is a management system for the optoelectronic pod, used to manage the equipment inside the pod. Upon receiving a power-on command, the infrared sensor can simultaneously trigger the refrigerator to start.

[0028] S102. After the infrared sensor has cooled down, the current pitch angle is recorded as the initial pitch angle. The servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to the predetermined angle and keeps the azimuth angle unchanged.

[0029] The predetermined angle is +90° position, that is, +90° directly above the current position of the turntable.

[0030] S103. The system control and management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control and management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction.

[0031] If the turret has not reached the predetermined angle, it is necessary to make real-time judgments and adjustments until the turret reaches the predetermined angle.

[0032] S104. After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control turret rotates to the initial pitch angle and sends feedback to the pod system that the correction is complete.

[0033] For example, after the system completes initialization upon power-on or after the infrared sensor has been powered off and then powered on again...

[0034] (1) The system self-test is completed, and the system control and management unit sends an infrared power-on command;

[0035] (2) The infrared sensor refrigerator is started, and the infrared working status is "cooling".

[0036] (3) After the infrared sensor has finished cooling, the infrared working status is "cooling completed and awaiting calibration", and a "infrared cooling completed" notification is sent to the system control and management unit.

[0037] (4) After the system control and management unit receives the "infrared cooling completed" notification, the servo control status is "inertial stability";

[0038] (5) The system enters the collection mode and starts a 20-second timer. The servo system records the current pitch angle α1 and then drives the turret to rotate upward until it stops at the pitch angle +90° position, while the azimuth angle remains unchanged.

[0039] (6) The system control and management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the +90° position. If it has not reached the position, the servo control unit continues to drive the turret to rotate upward. If it has reached the position, the servo control unit maintains the current state and waits for the infrared calibration to be completed. The system control and management unit sends an infrared background calibration command. After receiving the command, the infrared sensor starts calibration and the infrared working state is "start calibration".

[0040] (7) After the infrared sensor calibration is completed, the infrared working status is "calibration completed" and a "infrared calibration completed" notification is sent to the system control and management unit;

[0041] (8) After receiving the “infrared calibration completed” notification, the system control and management unit enters the “return” mode. The servo control unit simultaneously drives the turret to rotate downwards until the pitch angle is α1, at which point it stops. The servo control state is “inertial stability”.

[0042] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the calibration process for the pod's infrared sensor also includes:

[0043] S201. If the infrared sensor is currently powered on, record the current pitch angle as the initial pitch angle, and the servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to the predetermined angle while keeping the azimuth angle unchanged.

[0044] S202. The system control and management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control and management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction.

[0045] S203. After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control turret rotates to the initial pitch angle and sends feedback to the pod system that the correction is complete.

[0046] In this embodiment, infrared sensor calibration is achieved by combining the servo system and infrared background correction. This eliminates the need to add hardware components, which would increase the size and weight of the optoelectronic pod, and also reduces the requirements of the calibration scenario and simplifies the calibration process.

[0047] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in the above embodiments does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an airborne optoelectronic pod infrared sensor calibration system provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes:

[0049] System control and management unit 310: used to manage the servo control unit and sensor control unit, and send control commands and receive control feedback information;

[0050] Servo control unit 320: used for servo control of turret movement;

[0051] Sensor control unit 330: used to control the infrared sensor, control the switching of the infrared sensor state, and feed back the control results to the system control management unit;

[0052] Cache unit 340 is used to store the current pitch angle of the turret;

[0053] When the pod system completes initialization or the infrared sensor is powered off and then powered on again, the system control management unit sends a power-on command to the infrared sensor, and the sensor control unit controls the activation of the infrared sensor's cooling function.

[0054] After the infrared sensor has cooled down, the buffer unit records the current pitch angle as the initial pitch angle, and the servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to the predetermined angle while keeping the azimuth angle unchanged.

[0055] The system control and management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control and management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction.

[0056] After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control unit drives the turret to rotate to the initial pitch angle and sends feedback to the pod system that the correction is complete.

[0057] The predetermined angle is the +90° position.

[0058] Optionally, if the infrared sensor is currently powered on, the current pitch angle is recorded as the initial pitch angle, and the servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to a predetermined angle while keeping the azimuth angle unchanged.

[0059] The system control and management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control and management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction.

[0060] After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control turret rotates to the initial pitch angle and sends feedback to the pod system that the correction is complete.

[0061] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and modules described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0062] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0063] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An airborne opto-electronic pod infrared sensor calibration method, characterized in that, include: When the pod system completes initialization or the infrared sensor is powered on again after being powered off, the infrared sensor starts its cooling function according to the received power-on command. After the infrared sensor is cooled, it records the current pitch angle as the initial pitch angle. The servo control unit drives the turret to rotate upward to the predetermined angle and keeps the azimuth angle unchanged. The system control management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction. After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control turret rotates to the initial pitch angle and feeds back the correction completion to the pod system. Alternatively, if the infrared sensor is currently powered on, the current pitch angle is recorded as the initial pitch angle. The servo control unit drives the turret to rotate upward to the predetermined angle while maintaining the azimuth angle unchanged. The system control management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, the servo control unit continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction. After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control turret rotates to the initial pitch angle and reports the correction completion to the pod system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The predetermined angle is +90°.

3. An airborne optoelectronic pod infrared sensor calibration system, characterized in that, At least include: System control and management unit: used to manage servo control units and sensor control units, send control commands, and receive control feedback information; Servo control unit: used for servo control of turret movement; Sensor control unit: Used to control the infrared sensor, control the switching of the infrared sensor state, and feed back the control results to the system control management unit; The cache unit is used to store the current pitch angle of the turret; When the pod system completes initialization or the infrared sensor is powered on again after being powered off, the system control management unit sends a power-on command to the infrared sensor, and the sensor control unit controls the activation of the infrared sensor cooling function. After the infrared sensor is cooled, the buffer unit records the current pitch angle as the initial pitch angle, and the servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to the predetermined angle while keeping the azimuth angle unchanged. The system control management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, it continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle through the servo control unit. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction. After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control unit drives the turret to rotate to the initial pitch angle and sends feedback to the pod system that the correction is complete. If the infrared sensor is currently powered on, the current pitch angle is recorded as the initial pitch angle. The servo control unit drives the turntable to rotate upward to the predetermined angle while maintaining the azimuth angle unchanged. The system control management unit determines whether the turret has rotated to the predetermined angle. If it has not reached the predetermined angle, the servo control unit continues to drive the turret to the predetermined angle. If it has reached the predetermined angle, the system control management unit sends an infrared background correction command to perform background correction. After the infrared sensor background correction is completed, the servo control unit rotates the turret to the initial pitch angle and reports the correction completion to the pod system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, The predetermined angle is +90°.

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