Improved imaging platform

Abstract

Imaging system which may operate in conjunction with a single platform and may include a single plural-purpose imaging payload including at least a first optical path dedicated to a first imaging mission defining a first line of sight for the payload; and / or a second optical path dedicated to a second imaging mission defining a second light of sight for the payload which differs from the first line of sight; and / or a payload orientation subsystem, including a hardware processor, for selectably bringing the imaging payload into at least a first orientation yielding the first line of sight and / or a second orientation yielding the second line of sight, to yield a single platform configured to execute plural imaging missions including the first and second imaging missions.

Description

[0001] Improved Imaging Platform

[0002] FIELD OF THIS DISCLOSURE

[0003] The present invention relates generally to imaging, and more particularly to imaging from the air.

[0004] BACKGROUND FOR THIS DISCLOSURE

[0005] Imaging platforms are known; conventional platforms have a single mission at all times, which typically defines a single line of sight, and a single focal plane used at all times.

[0006] The following online reference: core.ac.uk / download / pdf / 32553041.pdf describes multi-mission sensors for tactical military needs.

[0007] USA patent document US10475171(B2) describes a multi-camera imaging system.

[0008] USA patent document US7049597(B2) describes a multi-mode optical imager.

[0009] USA patent document US5661610(A) describes a telescope for infrared or visible imaging.

[0010] T. F. Utsch et al, "Design concepts for space-borne multi-mission sensors for tactical military needs", available online (core.ac.uk / download / pdf / 32553041.pdf) teach that a "standard electro-optical sensor can perform several different surveillance missions to support tactical military users. The missions include environmental sensing, land and ocean remote sensing, tactical missile tracking, and space object surveillance. The key is that while the spacecraft is a standard configuration for all missions, its design is a compromise between the specific requirements for each mission; the orbit chosen and operations mode for each mission also vary. Although sub-optimal for any given mission, standard sensor systems have the advantage of achieving a higher benefit-to-cost ratio by realizing economies of scale in production and reduced development" .

[0011] The disclosures of all publications and patent documents mentioned in the specification, and of the publications and patent documents cited therein directly or indirectly, are hereby incorporated by reference other than subject matter disclaimers or disavowals. If the incorporated material is inconsistent with the express disclosure herein, the interpretation is that the express disclosure herein describes certain embodiments, whereas the incorporated material describes other embodiments. Definition / s within the incorporated material may be regarded as one possible definition for the term / s in question.

[0012] SUMMARY

[0013] Certain embodiments seek to provide an airborne platform which is more efficient than conventional platforms which have a single purpose (e.g., a single mission at all times, which typically defines a single line of sight and a single focal plane used at all times).

[0014] Certain embodiments seek to provide a plural e.g. dual-purpose imaging platform, typically airborne, which includes a plural, e.g., dual-mission, imaging payload or camera or electro-optical radar, which is typically configured to execute a selectable mission from among plural, e.g., two missions, where the payload or camera or radar operates different detectors for each mission, thereby to define two channels corresponding to the two imaging missions. Typically, the payload or camera or radar includes frontal optics (aka fore optics) which may include a telescope, e.g., a Cassegrain telescope. A dichroic mirror may be deployed after the telescope (downstream of the telescope along the optical path), to split an incoming light beam. The light beam's visible range (typically including NIR) may continue towards a lens group and focal plane array of one channel, and another range (e.g., longer wavelength (IR) range) of the light beam may return or be reflected towards a lens group and focal plane array of the second channel. Or, the visible range may be reflected, and the longer wavelengths may continue, i.e., vice versa. More generally, each lens group, aka lens family, typically adapts its respective channel's focal length to mission requirements and / or lens group transmittance to the mission wavelength.

[0015] The term "channel" as used herein may include an optical path which belongs to one spectral-band, typically exclusively (e.g., each channel has its own lens group and detector; other optical elements such as fore optics and dichroic mirror, e.g., as shown, may be shared between channels and / or may serve both the first imaging mission and the second imaging mission, hence may not be considered part of the respective two channels. At least one connecting optical element may connect the first optical path and the second optical path, to the shared optical element / s. The shared optical element / s may be a telescope. In a two-channel embodiment, the first channel typically comprises a first optical path dedicated to a first imaging mission defining a first line of sight for the payload, and the second channel typically comprises a second optical path dedicated to a second imaging mission defining a second light of sight for the payload which may coincide with the first line of sight.

[0016] Certain embodiments seekto provide an electro-optical and / or radarfor plural spectral domains and plural tasks respectively, enabling plural missions or tasks to be performed by a single airborne platform, thus cost-effectively, by selectable direction of the line of sight of the camera or radar or payload along plural lines of sight respectively e.g., a first horizontal line of sight vs. a second vertical line of sight. Certain embodiments seek to provide a system and / or method and / or computer program product to implement the above embodiments.

[0017] Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide circuitry typically comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory, with instructions stored in such memory executed by the processor to provide functionalities which are described herein in detail. Any functionality described herein may be firmware-implemented or processor-implemented, as appropriate.

[0018] It is appreciated that any reference herein to, or recitation of, an operation being performed is, e.g., if the operation is performed at least partly in software, intended to include both an embodiment where the operation is performed in its entirety by a server A, and also to include any type of "outsourcing" or "cloud" embodiments in which the operation, or portions thereof, is or are performed by a remote processor P (or several such), which may be deployed off-shore or "on a cloud", and an output of the operation is then communicated to, e.g. over a suitable computer network, and used by, server A. Analogously, the remote processor P may not, itself, perform all of the operations, and, instead, the remote processor P itself may receive output / s of portion / s of the operation from yet another processor / s P', may be deployed off-shore relative to P, or "on a cloud", and so forth. The present invention typically includes at least the following embodiments:

[0019] Embodiment 1. An improved imaging system operative in conjunction with a single platform and comprising a single plural-purpose imaging payload including at least a first optical path dedicated to a first imaging mission defining a first line of sight for the payload; and / or a second optical path dedicated to a second imaging mission defining a second light of sight for the payload which differs from the first line of sight; and / or a payload orientation subsystem, including a hardware processor, for selectably bringing the imaging payload into at least a first orientation yielding the first line of sight and / or a second orientation yielding the second line of sight, to yield a single platform configured to execute plural imaging missions including the first and second imaging missions.

[0020] Embodiment 2. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the payload is fixed relative to the platform, and wherein the payload orientation subsystem comprises a controller configured to selectably control a platform maneuver subsystem included in the single platform to selectably bring the platform, and hence the payload fixed therewithin, into a first orientation yielding the first line of sight and into a second orientation yielding the second line of sight.

[0021] Embodiment 3. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments and also comprising at least one shared optical element which serves both the first imaging mission and the second imaging mission; and / or at least one connecting optical element connecting the first optical path and the second optical path to the shared optical element.

[0022] Embodiment 4. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the shared optical element comprises a telescope.

[0023] Embodiment 5. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the telescope comprises a Cassegrain telescope.

[0024] Embodiment 6. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the connecting optical element comprises a mirror which splits light from the shared optical element into a transmitted light beam which travels the first optical path, and a reflected light beam which travels the second optical path.

[0025] Embodiment 7. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the mirror comprises a dichroic mirror. Embodiment 8. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the payload orientation subsystem comprises a controller configured to selectably maneuver the payload into a first orientation yielding the first line of sight and into a second orientation yielding the second line of sight.

[0026] Embodiment 9. An imaging method comprising: providing a plural-purpose platform which includes a single plural-purpose payload (or camera or electro-optical radar) configured to activate plural light detectors for plural imaging missions respectively, thereby to define plural channels corresponding to the plural imaging missions.

[0027] Embodiment 10. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the payload includes frontal optics (aka fore optics) which includes a telescope and a dichroic mirror deployed after the telescope, to split an incoming light beam.

[0028] Embodiment 11. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein a first portion of the incoming light beam's frequency spectrum (e.g. first color) continues towards a first lens group and / or first focal plane array corresponding to a first channel from among the plural channels, and a second portion of the light beam's frequency spectrum (e.g. second color) returns or is reflected back from the dichroic mirror towards a second lens group, and / or second focal plane array corresponding to a second channel from among the plural channels.

[0029] Embodiment 12. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the plural channels have different focal lengths, thereby to define plural focal lengths, and wherein the first lens group provides a first focal length for the first portion of the incoming light beam's frequency spectrum, and the second lens group provides a second focal length for the second portion of the incoming light beam's frequency spectrum, thereby to adapt each channel's focal length to respective, different mission requirements.

[0030] Embodiment 13. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein a pivoting flat mirror, having plural orientations corresponding to the plural imaging missions, is deployed in front of the payload, thereby to precede the payload along the optical path followed by light incoming to the payload. Embodiment 14. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, and wherein the system comprises a ground station configured to command the platform to change the payload's line of sight by changing the pivoting flat mirror's orientation.

[0031] Embodiment 15. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the plural channels differ in their Field of View (FOV).

[0032] Embodiment 16. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the plural channels differ in their line of sight.

[0033] Embodiment 17. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the plural imaging missions include a first mission and a second mission, and wherein the platform deploys, at a first height above ground when performing the first mission, and deploys at a second height above ground, which differs from the first height, when performing the second imaging mission.

[0034] Embodiment 18. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the plural channels require different imaging resolutions.

[0035] Embodiment 19. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments wherein the plural-purpose imaging payload comprises a dual-purpose imaging payload.

[0036] Embodiment 20. A computer program product, comprising a non -transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for providing a plural-purpose platform which includes a single plural-purpose payload, wherein the computer program product is configured to activate plural light detectors for plural imaging missions respectively, e.g., selectably or upon command, thereby to define, e.g., selectably or upon command, plural channels corresponding to the plural imaging missions.

[0037] Also provided, excluding signals, is a computer program comprising computer program code means for performing any of the methods shown and described herein when the program is run on at least one computer; and a computer program product, comprising a typically non-transitory computer-usable or -readable medium, e.g., non-transitory computer -usable or -readable storage medium, typically tangible, having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement any or all of the methods shown and described herein. The operations in accordance with the teachings herein may be performed by at least one computer specially constructed for the desired purposes, or a general purpose computer specially configured for the desired purpose by at least one computer program stored in a typically non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The term "non-transitory" is used herein to exclude transitory, propagating signals or waves, but to otherwise include any volatile or non-volatile computer memory technology suitable to the application.

[0038] Any suitable processor / s, display and input means may be used to process, display, e.g., on a computer screen or other computer output device, store, and accept information such as information used by or generated by any of the methods and apparatus shown and described herein; the above processor / s, display and input means including computer programs, in accordance with all or any subset of the embodiments of the present invention. Any or all functionalities of the invention shown and described herein, such as but not limited to operations within flowcharts, may be performed by any one or more of: at least one conventional personal computer processor, workstation, or other programmable device or computer or electronic computing device or processor, either general-purpose or specifically constructed, used for processing; a computer display screen and / or printer and / or speaker for displaying; machine-readable memory such as flash drives, optical disks, CDROMs, DVDs, BluRays, magnetic-optical discs or other discs; RAMs, ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical or other cards, for storing, and keyboard or mouse for accepting. Modules illustrated and described herein may include any one or combination or plurality of: a server, a data processor, a memory / computer storage, a communication interface (wireless (e.g. BLE) or wired (e.g. USB)), or a computer program stored in memory / computer storage.

[0039] The term "process" as used above is intended to include any type of computation or manipulation or transformation of data represented as physical, e.g. electronic, phenomena which may occur or reside e.g. within registers and / or memories of at least one computer or processor. Use of nouns in singular form is not intended to be limiting; thus, the term processor is intended to include a plurality of processing units which may be distributed or remote, the term server is intended to include plural typically interconnected modules running on plural respective servers, and so forth.

[0040] The above devices may communicate via any conventional wired or wireless digital communication means, e.g., via a wired or cellular telephone network or a computer network such as the Internet.

[0041] The apparatus of the present invention may include, according to certain embodiments of the invention, machine readable memory containing or otherwise storing a program of instructions which, when executed by the machine, implements all or any subset of the apparatus, methods, features, and functionalities of the invention shown and described herein. Alternatively, or in addition, the apparatus of the present invention may include, according to certain embodiments of the invention, a program as above which may be written in any conventional programming language, and optionally a machine for executing the program, such as but not limited to a general purpose computer which may optionally be configured or activated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Any of the teachings incorporated herein may, wherever suitable, operate on signals representative of physical objects or substances.

[0042] The embodiments referred to above, and other embodiments, are described in detail in the next section.

[0043] Any trademark occurring in the text or drawings is the property of its owner, and occurs herein merely to explain or illustrate one example of how an embodiment of the invention may be implemented.

[0044] Unless stated otherwise, terms such as, "processing", "computing", "estimating", "selecting", "ranking", "grading", "calculating", "determining", "generating", "reassessing", "classifying", "generating", "producing", "stereomatching", "registering", "detecting", "associating", "superimposing", "obtaining", "providing", "accessing", "setting" or the like, refer to the action and / or processes of at least one computer / s or computing system / s, or processor / s or similar electronic computing device / s or circuitry, that manipulate and / or transform data which may be represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities e.g. within the computing system's registers and / or memories, and / or may be provided on-the-fly, into other data which may be similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers, or other such information storage, transmission or display devices or may be provided to external factors, e.g., via a suitable data network. The term "computer" should be broadly construed to cover any kind of electronic device with data processing capabilities, including, by way of non-limiting example, personal computers, servers, embedded cores, computing systems, communication devices, processors (e.g. digital signal processor (DSP), microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.), and other electronic computing devices. Any reference to a computer, controller, or processor, is intended to include one or more hardware devices, e.g., chips, which may be co-located or remote from one another. Any controller or processor may for example comprise at least one CPU, DSP, FPGA or ASIC, suitably configured in accordance with the logic and functionalities described herein.

[0045] Any feature or logic or functionality described herein may be implemented by processor / s or controller / s configured as per the described feature or logic or functionality, even if the processor / s or controller / s are not specifically illustrated for simplicity. The controller or processor may be implemented in hardware, e.g., using one or more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), or may comprise a microprocessor that runs suitable software, or a combination of hardware and software elements.

[0046] The present invention may be described, merely for clarity, in terms of terminology specific to, or references to, particular programming languages, operating systems, browsers, system versions, individual products, protocols and the like. It will be appreciated that this terminology or such reference / s is intended to convey general principles of operation clearly and briefly, by way of example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention solely to a particular programming language, operating system, browser, system version, or individual product or protocol. Nonetheless, the disclosure of the standard or other professional literature defining the programming language, operating system, browser, system version, or individual product or protocol in question, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Elements separately listed herein need not be distinct components, and alternatively may be the same structure. A statement that an element or feature may exist is intended to include (a) embodiments in which the element or feature exists; (b) embodiments in which the element orfeature does not exist; and (c) embodiments in which the element or feature exist selectably, e.g., a user may configure or select whether the element or feature does or does not exist.

[0047] Any suitable input device, such as but not limited to a sensor, may be used to generate or otherwise provide information received by the apparatus and methods shown and described herein. Any suitable output device or display may be used to display or output information generated by the apparatus and methods shown and described herein. Any suitable processor / s may be employed to compute or generate or route, or otherwise manipulate or process, information as described herein, and / or to perform functionalities described herein, and / or to implement any engine, interface, or other system illustrated or described herein. Any suitable computerized data storage, e.g., computer memory, may be used to store information received by or generated by the systems shown and described herein. Functionalities shown and described herein may be divided between a server computer and a plurality of client computers. These or any other computerized components shown and described herein may communicate between themselves via a suitable computer network.

[0048] The system shown and described herein may include a user interface which may, for example, include all or any subset of: an interactive voice response interface, automated response tool, speech-to-text transcription system, automated digital or electronic interface having interactive visual components, web portal, visual interface loaded as web page / s or screen / s from server / s via communication network / s to a web browser or other application downloaded onto a user's device, automated speech-to-text conversion tool, including a front-end interface portion thereof and back-end logic interacting therewith. Thus, the term user interface, or "Ul" as used herein, includes also the underlying logic which controls the data presented to the user, e.g., by the system display, and receives and processes data entered by a user, e.g., using her or his workstation / device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration which shows a dual-payload (aka "dual optics" or "dual purpose camera") airborne platform, and a ground station which controls the platform's operation flow, according to embodiments herein.

[0050] Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration which illustrates various possible platforms, by way of non-limiting example.

[0051] Fig. 3 is a simplified optical diagram of dual-purpose optics which may reside on-board the platform of Fig. 2, which serves as a dual-purpose camera. For example, the optics of Fig. 3 and the system of Fig. 2 may have a first peace-time mission targeting a first target which may require the system to have a first line-of-sight and first focal plane during peace-time, and a second emergency-period aka "crisis" mission targeting a second target, which may require the system to have a second line-of-sight (which may differ from the first line of sight) and second focal plane (which may differ from the first focal plane) during crises.

[0052] Figs. 4, 5 are simplified flowcharts.

[0053] Fig. 6 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an alternative embodiment.

[0054] It is appreciated that elements illustrated in more than one drawings, and / or elements in the written description may still be combined into a single embodiment, except if otherwise specifically clarified herewithin.

[0055] Methods and systems included in the scope of the present invention may include some (e.g., any suitable subset) or all of the functional blocks shown in the specifically illustrated implementations by way of example, in any suitable order, e.g., as shown.

[0056] Computational, functional, or logical components described and illustrated herein can be implemented in various forms, for example as hardware circuits, such as but not limited to custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays or programmable hardware devices, such as but not limited to FPGAs, or as software program code stored on at least one tangible or intangible computer readable medium and executable by at least one processor, or any suitable combination thereof. A specific functional component may be formed by one particular sequence of software code, or by a plurality of such, which collectively act or behave or act as described herein with reference to the functional component in question. For example, the component may be distributed over several code sequences, such as but not limited to objects, procedures, functions, routines, and programs, and may originate from several computer files which typically operate synergistically.

[0057] Each functionality or method herein may be implemented in software (e.g., for execution on suitable processing hardware such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor), firmware, hardware (using any conventional hardware technology such as Integrated Circuit technology) or any combination thereof.

[0058] Functionality or operations stipulated as being software-implemented may alternatively be wholly or fully implemented by an equivalent hardware or firmware module, and vice-versa. Firmware implementing functionality described herein, if provided, may be held in any suitable memory device, and a suitable processing unit (aka processor), may be configured for executing firmware code. Alternatively, certain embodiments described herein may be implemented partly or exclusively in hardware, in which case all or any subset of the variables, parameters, and computations described herein may be in hardware.

[0059] Any module or functionality described herein may comprise a suitably configured hardware component or circuitry. Alternatively or in addition, modules or functionality described herein may be performed by a general purpose computer, or more generally by a suitable microprocessor, configured in accordance with methods shown and described herein, or any suitable subset, in any suitable order, of the operations included in such methods, or in accordance with methods known in the art.

[0060] Any logical functionality described herein may be implemented as a real time application, if and as appropriate, and which may employ any suitable architectural option, such as but not limited to FPGA, ASIC, or DSP, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0061] Any hardware component mentioned herein may in fact include either one or more hardware devices, e.g., chips, which may be co-located or remote from one another.

[0062] Any method described herein is intended to include, within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention, also any software or computer program performing all or any subset of the method's operations, including a mobile application, platform or operating system, e.g., as stored in a medium, as well as combining the computer program with a hardware device to perform all or any subset of the operations of the method.

[0063] Data can be stored on one or more tangible or intangible computer readable media stored at one or more different locations, different network nodes, or different storage devices at a single node or location.

[0064] It is appreciated that any computer data storage technology, including any type of storage or memory and any type of computer components and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for an interval of time, and any type of information retention technology, may be used to store the various data provided and employed herein. Suitable computer data storage or information retention apparatus may include apparatus which is primary, secondary, tertiary, or off-line; which is of any type or level or amount or category of volatility, differentiation, mutability, accessibility, addressability, capacity, performance and energy use; and which is based on any suitable technologies such as semiconductor, magnetic, optical, paper, and others.

[0065] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0066] Certain embodiments use an existing platform, intended for example for a mission ("missionl") such as remote sensing, and also for another mission ("mission2") e.g. early warning for hot threats (such as asteroids, etc.). This may be done, for example, by adding an IR channel retroactively to an existing imaging platform or by designing an improved imaging platform which includes an additional channel, e.g., IR channel. This enables an existing platform to be used, say, for detecting hot objects (like asteroids, debris etc.), which is exceptionally cost-effective relative to acquiring an additional platform for detecting hot objects. Alternatively, or in addition, this enables an existing platform to be used, say to cover an area of interest almost continuously in order to discover that threats are being launched therefrom, and, to follow or track them, it is conventional to deploy dedicated platforms. Yet the cost of this scheme is very large, as compared to adding an additional (e.g. IR) channel to planned platform / s for remote sensing, to yield plural, e.g., dual-use platforms.

[0067] Certain embodiments use an existing imaging platform having an imaging payload, e.g., camera, and equip this camera with an additional IR channel. This enables the platform to be used for plural missions or tasks, e.g., responsive to a command from the ground station identifying which mission is the platform currently to dedicate itself to performing. For each mission the line of sight of the camera (of the imaging payload on the platform) may be directed to a different location, e.g., the line of sight may, say, be horizontal for one mission, and vertical for another. Typically, the platform has a coordinate system relative to which any payload LOS (Line of Sight) may be defined.

[0068] The term payload as used herein is intended to include any hardware deployed on a typically airborne platform to generate visual information, e.g., all or any subset of the hardware illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0069] Typically, use of a single platform camera for plural, e.g., two different tasks or missions, thereby to define plural, e.g., two selectable channels that may be activated as needed, without requiring plural, e.g., two separate platforms, includes splitting light reaching the camera between the plural, e.g., two missions, of which one has a first line of sight (for example: vertical) and the other / s has / have a different line / s of sight (for example: horizontal).

[0070] The plural channels or missions may differ in their Field of View (FOV) and / or line of sight and / or focal plane / length and / or platform height, and / or in the imaging resolution they require.

[0071] Performing the plural missions may require the platform to assume plural respective platform orientations (e.g., by maneuver) to achieve plural orientations of the payload which may be fixed within the platform.

[0072] Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an example multi-purpose airborne platform (e.g., dual sensor / payload platform) having plural, e.g., two missions. For example, the first mission may be assigned to the platform on certain days, whereas the second mission may be assigned on other days. Mission 1 may be assigned a given location, at a given time of day, for example, whereas mission 2 may be assigned a different location at a different time of day, thereby to enable plural missions to be performed by a single platform on the same day.

[0073] As shown, a ground station may be provided, which controls the platform's operation flow. Any suitable station / s, typically on the ground, may be employed to control operation flow and / or receive platform telemetry and imagery data. As shown, ground station / s each typically comprise control computer / s and / or a receiving / transmitting antenna as shown and / or a structure, represented by a house icon, to house personnel and infrastructure. According to certain embodiments, a man in the loop controls the ground station. Alternatively, an autonomous control station may be provided and may be equipped with suitable sensors, triggers, and Al processors.

[0074] Fig. 2 illustrates various possible platforms, (in various platforms' height) by way of non-limiting example.

[0075] It is appreciated that the platform may include any type of airborne (remote sensing) platform, such as but not limited to the alternative platforms shown in Fig. 2.

[0076] Fig. 3 is a simplified optical diagram of a dual-use payload aka camera, provided in accordance with certain embodiments, which may be deployed on board the plural, e.g., dual sensor / payload platform of Fig. 1. As shown, the payload may include optics used to accomplish more than one mission (hence deemed to be shared by the plural missions thus served), such as a telescope, per-mission optics such as plural focal plane detectors provided for each of plural missions separately, and optics (e.g., a dichroic mirror) which transition light between the shared optics and the per-mission optics.

[0077] In Fig. 3, each of the two focal plane detectors typically serves as a focal point or eyepiece for one of the respective missions. The payload comprises a dichroic mirror, a telescope (e.g. Cassegrain), which may comprise an apertured parabolic primary mirror typically having an aperture at its center, a hyperbolic secondary mirror, and a focal point / eyepiece. Two lines of sight are typically provided by platform maneuver, e.g., the payload LOS is constant (in the illustrated embodiment at least). However, by suitable manuevering, the platform aligns the payload LOS, e.g., transits from one LOS along which a first target lies suited to one mission, which requires that the first target be imaged or monitored, to other line / s of sight respectively suited to other typically predefined mission / s in which other respective target / s, lying along other respective line / s of sight, are imaged or monitored. Alternatively, e.g., as shown in Fig. 6, the payload may have a mechanical stage or other component designed to enable the payload to utilize plural lines of sight without the platform itself having to maneuver to achieve these.

[0078] It is appreciated that in Fig. 3, the mirrors need not be 'parabolic' and 'hyperbolic', and, more generally, any suitable type of telescope, not necessarily a Cassegrain telescope, may be employed. Lens groups and focal planes are typically provided per-mission, e.g., as shown (in the illustrated embodiment) for two missions, missionl and mission2.

[0079] The platform orientation (LOS direction) is shown separately for the two missions, although only one mission is in practice performed at any given time. The first platform orientation (aka "LOS - 1stMission) is looking, say, toward earth. The second platform orientation (aka "LOS - 2ndMission") is looking, say, toward the horizon, or beyond (not shown). Each platform bears a payload, e.g., the payload of Fig. 3. Typically, at least one ground station, aka GS, is provided, which may control the platform via commands dispatched thereto using any suitable technology, and may receive data from the platform (e.g., payload telemetry, imagery data).

[0080] It is appreciated that the fore optics (e.g., a telescope and two mirrors) may effectively provide images at two different spectral ranges; the fore optics typically image in a wide and continuous spectral range, and typically, after the dichroic mirror, the spectral range splits in two, and the final range may then be defined at the detector (e.g., VIS (visual) for the first mission, MWIR (medium-wave infra-red) for the second mission). Thus typically, a mirror coating (e.g., silver) is selected, which reflects well in both ranges.

[0081] In the illustrated embodiment, the dichroic mirror receives the incoming light from the same area and splits the incoming light according to its spectra; light in one spectral range (e.g., VIS) passes to the first focal plane as shown by the dashed line, whereas light in the other spectral range reflects to the second focal plane, as shown in dotted lines. The dashed and dotted lines between the telescope entrance and the dichroic mirror in fact overlap, and are illustrated otherwise simply to facilitate explanation. Y1

[0082] The dichroic filter (e.g., dichroic coating on the dichroic mirror) splits the light received by the payload, by color (or more generally, splitting based on spectral range) in that one range portion is reflected; the remainder of the range is transmitted. The payload receives light from two spectral ranges aka "colors" (typically, the VIS range and the MWIR range); in the 1stmission orientation (LOS toward Earth) the informative photons are typically those - mainly in the VIS range - which are reflected from targets defined on Earth. In the second mission the informative photons are typically emitted by the (stationary or moving) target (and from the background) which are detected in the MWIR.

[0083] When designing the two channels herein, which typically both look to the same target (even at the same time, e.g., if both focal planes remain in on-state), photons may be directed to both FPs, e.g. by using either of the following two embodiments: a. Beam splitter option (without dichroic mirror, e.g.,) - Split the entire spectrum, as a semi-transparent mirror does -in this case a first portion of the entire spectrum (both "colors") is directed to one FP and a second portion of the entire spectrum (also including both "colors") is directed to the second FP. It is appreciated that beam splitting mirror / s may be employed to split the spectral range into (say) two. b. Dichroic mirror option - Split the spectrum using the dichroic filter - in this case the spectrum itself is split; one portion of the spectrum is directed to the first focal plane, and another portion is directed to the second focal plane. This is advantageous because no informative, aka "good" photons, are wasted since all good photons of the VIS portion are directed to FP1, whereas all good photons of the MWIR portion are directed to FP2.

[0084] The payload has a single LOS, in the illustrated embodiment. Typically, the platform aligns the payload LOS, given that the camera / payload is mechanically passive, having no ability to change its inherent LOS. When it becomes desirable to image a different target (e.g., a target not located in front of the payload LOS), the LOS direction is changed by moving the entire payload toward the required image location (to face the desired target, e.g.). The LOS change occurs as a result of maneuvering the platform orientation toward the target where the LOS of the payload with reference to the platform coordination system remains the same, but the platform coordination system with reference to Earth changes. Typically, when performing the platform's first mission, in which the first focal plane is in use, changing targets involves a maneuver of only a few degrees, e.g., of the order of magnitude 1-2 degrees. In contrast, typically, when switching from missionl to mission2, or vice versa, the maneuver is far larger, to transit between Earth pointing and pointing to the horizon (and above), as shown in Fig. 1, for example.

[0085] If the telescope is Cassegrain, the primary mirror is typically parabolic and the secondary mirror hyperbolic. It is appreciated, however, that the telescope need not be Cassegrain; other types of telescopes may be used, such as but not limited to a three-mirror anastigmatic telescope, with or without central obscuration, or Newtonian telescopes.

[0086] A suitable cooler, such as an IDCA (Integrated Detector Cooler Assembly), may be provided to one of the focal plane assemblies, given that a detector in the MWIR (and LWIR) typically requires deep cooling of approximately 80K. Another example is that any suitable cryogenic cooler may be employed and the assembly may be in vacuum (Dewar e.g.). For any focal plane assembly (e.g., the second FPA), a cooling process may be begun early enough to ensure that by the time the platform maneuver has finished, the detector temperature has already achieved its operating temperature which may be very low. In the illustrated embodiment, this is not required when switching from mission2 to missionl. However, switching the 1stfocal plane assembly 'on' typically requires but a few milliseconds.

[0087] Fig. 4 may include all or any subset of the following operations, suitably ordered, e.g., as shown.

[0088] AIT (assembly, integration & testing) phase

[0089] All or any subset of the following operations, in any suitable order, e.g. ,in the order described, are performed on ground during AIT (assembly, integration & testing), e.g., prior to the payload delivery to the customer and prior to mission start time.

[0090] Operation 10: initially, both focal planes may be switched off; the payload may be assembled on MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment) and connected to EGSE (Electronic Ground Support Equipment), while the payload is in "off" state.

[0091] Operation 20. Switch "On" Focal Plane 1 (FP1 - e.g., VIS) and align its LOS (line of sight) toward the light source / target of the EGSE. Use the EGSE to align or focus the target to FP1 center Field of View (FOV).

[0092] Switch "On" the second focal plane (e.g., IR) and, usingthe EGSE and alignment equipment with the required degree of freedom (DoF) or tolerance associated with or connected to FP2 typically yields overlap of or parallelism between focal planes' respective lines of sight and co-location of the two channels' fields of views' centers (e.g., in a case in which the focal planes' fields of view have different dimensions).

[0093] Typically, at this stage, the payload is not yet mounted on the platform, such that the AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System) is not (yet) accessible. The camera is typically calibrated in a laboratory, such that transitioning from one line of sight to another occurs by turning the focal plane on or off.

[0094] It is appreciated that any suitable component, which need not be limited to an AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System), may be employed to transit from one light of sight to the other, e.g. by causing the platform to maneuver from a first orientation which yields a 1stLOS used, say, in peacetime to point at a platform's peacetime target, to a 2ndorientation which yields a 2ndLOS to be used during emergency eras to target, to point at the platform's crisis-time target.

[0095] It is appreciated that the crisis mission need not necessarily be associated with light passing through the dichroic mirror, and the peacetime mission need not necessarily be associated with light reflected from the dichroic mirror. This arrangement may be reversed.

[0096] According to certain embodiments, the system may move or transit in real time (e.g., command may be executed within seconds or even milliseconds from when the command arrives at the platform) from one focal plane to another. A ground station may provide the focal length for missionl and / or for mission2 as a parameter during operation, and, responsively, the focus mechanism may set a focal length to suit a current mission. Focal length may be changed by a command and / or by predefined look-up-table. Alternatively, the focal length for missionl and for mission2 are both fixed, pre-known system parameters, e.g., for platforms which may not return to ground within an acceptable time-frame. For example, balloons may be operating at a given location far from the ground-station, for month or even years at a time. In this case, each channel (missionl and mission ) is pre-focused, on ground.

[0097] Alignment for both lines of sight may (e.g., one after another) be executed by the same facility.

[0098] Operation 40: provide dedicated optical set-up on the ground for calibration, e.g., re-focusing and / or line-of-sight alignment of the platform

[0099] Operation 50: measure the best focus position (e.g. PSF (Point Spread Function) / MTF (Modulation Spread Function) measurement) for missionl channel using 1stlight source with spectral range which is adapted for the channel focal plane in that the light source emits light in the spectral range that the channel's detector is sensitive to, typically with similar profile, and using a first focus for the optical test equipment (typically, use same equipment set to different focus)

[0100] Operation 60: repeat operation 50 for mission? channel

[0101] Operation 70: alignment of the two focal planes to one another.

[0102] According to certain embodiments, the payload is, e.g., in an AIT (Assembly, Integration and Testing) process, in a ground facility. For example, alignment for lineOfSightl and for lineOfSight? may be performed, to yield separate channels for ? missions, typically in a facility on ground, e.g., a lab, which may employ a dedicated optical set-up (aka optical test equipment) including a collimator and / or light source / s, dedicated targets (typically located in the collimator focal plane), and mechanical devices, such as a hexapod or any suitable known equivalent, to precisely calibrate or focus the platform's payload focal planes for each of the plural missions. The focal planes may be physically moved, e.g., in the AIT process, e.g., using the hexapod to manipulate one focal plane relative to a second stationary focal plane. Manipulation may continue, typically responsive to feed-back in real-time from an EGSE (Electronic Ground Support Equipment) display, until alignment is achieved. Typically, focal planes are deemed "aligned" if their respective lines of sight are parallel, and / or if respective centers, of their respective fields of view, coincide, in that the distance between the respective centers is zero pixels (along both x and y axes) or the centers are (within a defined tolerance or level of accuracy) co-located.

[0103] The optical design used at the AIT for the plural, e.g., dual-purpose system herein, is selected to suit both missions. The first channel's optical characteristics are defined, and the first channel's lens groups meet these requirements. Separately, the second channel's optical characteristics are defined, and the second channel's lens groups meet these requirements. Two FPs (Focal Planes) are defined and designed. Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) is performed for both channels and the two channels are aligned to achieve the registration required (zero or below-tolerance displacement between the centers of the two channels' FOVs and parallelism of the two FOV axes. All environmental requirements and tests are determined to be complied with, for both channels.

[0104] AIT may involve retroactively adding a channel, e.g., IR to an existing unipurpose re mote -sen si ng platform so as to convert a legacy uni-purpose platform into a plural, e.g., dual-purpose, platform. Or, payload design and AIT may involve building, from scratch, a plural, e.g., dual-purpose, platform, performing a first mission in the VIS-spectrum, and a second mission in the MWIR (medium-wave infra-red)-spectrum.

[0105] All or any subset of the following operations, in any suitable order, e.g., in the order described, are performed during a mission, e.g., when a platform is in orbit or in its mission position.

[0106] Operation 130: Platform is operated initially for the mission (say 'mission 1') it was configured or calibrated or aligned to in operation 20. Platform images the targets defined for mission 1 (say) according to ground station (GS) command.

[0107] Commands may include any suitable information, e.g., platform location (although typically, the AOCS [Attitude and Orbit Control Systems] knows the platform location), an imaging sequence which may be sent on occasion e.g., once every day, or every few days, and may include commands / targets for the upcoming day / s. Each imaging command (sent to the platform main controller) typically comprises start imaging time and / or stop imaging time and / or imaging duration and / or imaging parameters, such as all or any subset of integration time, detector Gain / Offset parameters, Detector window size, and / or platform orientation to be maintaining during imaging (desired Payload LOS direction during imaging, e.g.). It is appreciated that an FPA (focal plane assembly) typically comprises Detector(s) which are sensitive to a required wavelength (see e.g. focal plane detectors in Fig. 3). Each focal plane may include but a single type of detector, however more than one detector may be employed in each focal plane assembly, e.g., to increase the field of view), focal plane electronics to operate the detector by supplying power, clocks etc., which typically receives the imaging command from a platform main controller and transmits focal plane telemetry and imagery data, and a mechanical assembly. It is appreciated that for missionl, the first focal plane assembly may be switched 'On', whereas the 2ndfocal plane assembly remains in an 'Off' state. The detector and electronic modules required for imaging may be switched on just before imaging time. Alternatively, two focal planes may be employed simultaneously in missionl and / or two focal planes may be employed simultaneously in mission2.

[0108] Operation 140. A command, e.g., from a human user's workstation in the ground station, indicating that the platform is to switch to its second mission, is received by an onboard receiver. Responsively, the platform control computer or onboard controller commands to switch from the platform's 1stmission to the platform's 2ndmission, and the platform may, responsively, perform all or any subset of the operations in Fig. 5, in any suitable order e.g. as shown. For any focal plane assembly aka FPA (e.g. the second FPA, a cooling process may be begun early enough to ensure that by the time the platform maneuver has been completed, or by the time the second mission is to begin, the detector temperature has already achieved its operating temperature which may be very low, such that the time required for cooling may be longer than the total platform maneuver time.

[0109] Operation 150: When mission2 has completed, e.g., as indicated by GS command (immediate command) or pre-defined set of commands, the sequence of commands defined by Fig. 5 is executed to transit from mission back to missionl, so as to re-start missionl. Typically, no focusing is required to transit between missions, e.g., from missionl to mission 2 or via versa, since each of the focal planes is prefocused - during the assembly and testing phase - to its own respective mission, using its own respective lens group. Generally, when transmitting between missions, the focal plane active during the old mission may be switched off, the platform may then be maneuvered to the new LOS of the new mission, and (e.g., during the maneuver) the system control may start switching on the focal plane of the new mission.

[0110] The method of Fig. 5 typically comprises all or any subset of the following commands, suitably ordered, e.g., as shown. a. Ground station (GS) (e.g. a human operator's workstation) gets a command e.g., from a human operator or other platform user / owner, to change mission (from mission 1 to mission 2, e.g.). b. GS prepares a command typically formatted (e.g., by platform operators in the GS) in accordance with a pre-determined protocol defined between the ground station and platform. Each command may include, inter alia, a required direction of the LOS and / or imaging parameters and / or an indication of which focal plane (detector + electronics) is to be switched 'off1and 'on' and / or focal length for missionl and / or focal length for mission?. A menu of possible missions and a look-up table with the focal length for each mission may be maintained, e.g., at the ground station. (The look-up-table may, for example, be located on board the platform, e.g., may be stored in platform controller memory). c. A command is sent to the platform control computer, aka CC. d. Platform control computer operates the AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control Systems) to redirect the platform's orientation to achieve the second mission's LOS / yield the direction required for the second mission. e. Optionally, the platform control computer switches 'On' the second focal plane assembly, aka FPA, and switches 'Off' the first FPA. Alternatively, FP1, the first FPA, may remain in 'On' state. f. Optionally (e.g., if the focus of each mission is not pre-built into the system) the platform's focus is changed, depending on the focal length of the desired new mission, e.g., mission2. Typically, this change may be performed by a focus mechanism within the relevant lens group which is configured to move one or more lenses in the lens group designed to correct the focal length to a length required by mission?. Alternatively, this may be implemented by = changing the lens group used for missionl to a different lens group to be used for mission?. This may be done (e.g., by an unmanned platform, and e.g., assuming operational unavailability of the platform during this process is feasible), by landing the platform, disassembling the payload, disassembling the FP / lens, replacing it with a new FP and lens group, calibration & testing, so as to transit from one focal plane assembly to another. g. Platform payload images the required targets, and digitally transmits the resulting imagery data from the second focal plane assembly aka FP? to GS (ground station), yielding images which may be used by the platform user. The data chain may include payload electronics, compression and storage units and transmitting unit, which may be configured to send the data to the GS antenna in the design range (e.g., using a suitable radar band, such as but not limited to X-band, S-band, or free-space laser communication). h. Imagery data may be used by platform user for any suitable purpose, such as but not limited to monitoring immediate or gradual change in the Earth's surface, and, responsively, to predict undesirable events, e.g., hazards, and, responsively, provide alerts, and / or for decision support and / or triggers for automatic disaster response actions and / or automatic environmental law enforcement. Changes in the Earth's surface may include all or any subset of wind effects, precipitation, erosion (general or river-induced), land slides, glacier retreat, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, rivers widening or curving, changing ocean-coastline interaction or tide patterns, human interactions with the Earth's surface, e.g., digging, land-filling, construction, deforestation, urban sprawl, mining or agriculture, general weathering, and tectonic activity. Predictions of, and alerts for, any desired natural disasters may be provided, such as but not limited to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and, conversely, drought (as a function of observed water levels e.g.), tsunamis, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Also, imaging may be used as an input to environmental law enforcement processes to ensure sustainable land use and / or environmental conservation, the processes being either manual or automatic, e.g., to stem excessive deforestation, wildcat construction, or undesirable urbanization. Moreover, imaging may be used as an input to processes, either manual or automatic, for preserving biodiversity or managing water resources, or promoting sustainability. For example, using image processing, damaging mining practices or improper waste disposal may be identified, and suitable enforcement (e.g. documenting offenses and / or automatic ticketing of offenses) may, responsively, be (automatically or manually) performed. It is appreciated that any suitable sensing mission, e.g., imaging mission, may be included in the plural, e.g., 2 missions, such as but not limited to detecting hot objects (like asteroids, debris), conventional remote sensing, e.g., imaging of features of the Earth's surface, detection / tracking of conflagrations including industrial and / or forest fires.

[0111] The AOCS unit may be designed for each specific mission, e.g., the AOCS design may depend on the platform inertia (mass) and angular velocity defined for the maneuver of the platform say from mission 1 to mission . If a shorter, more rapid maneuver is desired, and / or if platform mass is high, a stronger AOCS may be designed, relative to a use-case in which a longer, slower maneuver is acceptable or is desired, and / or in which platform mass is lower.

[0112] Fig. 6 is a simplified semi-pictorial diagram of an alternative embodiment in which the plural, e.g., dual-purpose platform, switches between missionl and mission? (and / or vice versa) using a flat mirror (FM) which may be added in front of the payload entrance; typically however, the mirror is part of, or integrally formed with, the payload. This mirror is typically configured to rotate in two axes, e.g., by deploying the mirror on a suitable stage. Thus, when the platform transits from missionl to mission? and / or vice versa, a command may be sent from the GS to the platform to change the FM orientation according to the LOS of the newly desired mission. Fig. 6 shows two positions of the flat mirror; of these, in the illustrated embodiment, the position closer to the horizontal pertains to missionl, whereas the position closer to the vertical pertains to mission . The different lines of sight yielded by these two positions respectively, are as shown.

[0113] Many variations are possible. For example, according to certain embodiments, the platform has no mechanism for focus change; instead, the focus of each of the 2 channels (missionl and mission2) is pre-focused, on ground, in the AIT (Assembly, Integration & Testing) phase. Optionally, a focus mechanism may be implemented for each channel in order to have fine focus which enhances payload performance, however this need not be the case. According to certain embodiments, the focal length for missionl and for mission? need not be two fixed, pre-known system parameters, and, instead, a given mission's focal length is provided during operation flow, e.g., by the ground station, as a parameter, and, responsively, optical elements (e.g. 1 - ? lenses) are moved, hence correcting the focal length to the mission- appropriate length. The system may be sold with plural lenses corresponding to plural focal lengths, and these may be inserted into place (e.g., when the platform returns to ground) each time the platform is desired to be transmitting from one mission to another from among plural missions supported by the platform. Typically, in addition to the above lens replacement process, suitable changes are made in the focal plane detector & electronics as well, depending on the missions.

[0114] Also, it is appreciated that platform adjustment to adjust the payload is not a necessity; alternatively, for example, the payload alone may be adjusted, e.g., by assembling the payload on two axis gimbals. Another option is provision of the front mirror described elsewhere herein.

[0115] Also, it is appreciated that according to certain embodiments, an IR channel (say) may be added e.g., retrofitted to an existing remote-sensing platform.

[0116] Also, while some embodiments are "dual purpose", alternatively, more than two missions may be provided; a third mission might be monitoring for (natural) disasters, e.g., forest fires, industrial fires, or other fires, e.g., as described above. Typically, FP? will be in 'Off' state when missionl is being performed. However, according to certain embodiments, responsive to indications of forest fire or (natural) disasters occurring in a given geographical area A, the ground station may send a command to the platform which includes all or any subset of: a. Switch 'On' FP2. b. move the platform LOS to area A. c. FP1 to remain in 'On' state

[0117] It is appreciated that in the above circumstances, FP2 may (in area A) operate even at night time, whereas FP1 is in 'Off' state normally (given that the sun (light source for FP1 if the first mission is in the visible range) is unavailable during night hours.

[0118] Thus, referring again to Fig. 3, in some cases FP1 may (also) operate in mission?. Alternatively, or in addition, FP2 may (also) operate in missionl. This is useful, by way of non-limiting example alia, when it is desired to provide functionality of monitoring forest fires or even smaller fires, or monitoring (natural) disasters.

[0119] Also, two missions may be provided within the IR spectrum, e.g. a first mission with very short IR (Near IR - NIR) and a second mission in MWIR (Mid-Wave IR). A VIS channel for missionl may include plural spectral bands, one of which may be NIR, e.g., a spectral range of around 700-900nm, to which the FP1 detector is sensitive, yielding important data invisible to the human eye which is not sensitive to this range. The information (light / photons) for this range may comprise reflected sunlight. A second channel for mission2 may be sensitive mostly to photons emitted by 'hot' bodies such as the human body (around 300K) or Earth, hence mission?’s channel typically employs detectors and a lens group which differ from those of missionl's channel, e.g., being transparent in the required spectral range, and having power which fits the second focal plane's focus position.

[0120] Regarding data communication between modules shown and described herein, according to one embodiment, modules may share one or more secure APIs (application programming interface / s) between them. Also, communication between modules may comply with any customized protocol or customized query language, or may be presented in a conventional query language or protocol.

[0121] Any parameters described herein may be pre-set in the factory or may be configured via an API, in the field, or may be configured by an end-user, via a suitable user interface. It is appreciated that terminology such as "mandatory", "required", "need" and "must" refer to implementation choices made within the context of a particular implementation or application described herewithin for clarity, and are not intended to be limiting, since, in an alternative implementation, the same elements might be defined as not mandatory and not required, or might even be eliminated altogether.

[0122] Components described herein as software may, alternatively, be implemented wholly or partly in hardware and / or firmware, if desired, using conventional techniques, and vice-versa. Each module or component or processor may be centralized in a single physical location or physical device or distributed over several physical locations or physical devices.

[0123] Included in the scope of the present disclosure, inter alia, are electromagnetic signals in accordance with the description herein. These may carry computer-readable instructions for performing any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order, including simultaneous performance of suitable groups of operations as appropriate. Included in the scope of the present disclosure, inter alia, are machine-readable instructions for performing any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; program storage devices readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order, i.e. not necessarily as shown, including performing various operations in parallel or concurrently rather than sequentially as shown; a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code, such as executable code, having embodied therein, and / or including computer readable program code for performing, any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; any technical effects brought about by any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, when performed in any suitable order; any suitable apparatus or device or combination of such, programmed to perform, alone or in combination, any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; electronic devices each including at least one processor and / or cooperating input device and / or output device and operative to perform, e.g., in software, any operations shown and described herein; information storage devices or physical records, such as disks or hard drives, causing at least one computer or other device to be configured so as to carry out any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; at least one program prestored, e.g., in memory, or on an information network such as the Internet, before or after being downloaded, which embodies any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order, and the method of uploading or downloading such, and a system including server / s and / or client / s for using such; at least one processor configured to perform any combination of the described operations or to execute any combination of the described modules; and hardware which performs any or all of the operations of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order, either alone or in conjunction with software. Any computer-readable or machine-readable media described herein is intended to include non-transitory computer- or machine-readable media.

[0124] Any computations or other forms of analysis described herein may be performed by a suitable computerized method. Any operation or functionality described herein may be wholly or partially computer-implemented, e.g., by one or more processors. The invention shown and described herein may include (a) using a computerized method to identify a solution to any of the problems or for any of the objectives described herein, the solution optionally including at least one of a decision, an action, a product, a service, or any other information described herein, that impacts, in a positive manner, a problem or objectives described herein; and (b) outputting the solution.

[0125] The system may, if desired, be implemented as a web-based system employing software, computers, routers and telecommunications equipment, as appropriate.

[0126] Any suitable deployment may be employed to provide functionalities, e.g., software functionalities shown and described herein. For example, a server may store certain applications, for download to clients, which are executed at the client side, the server side serving only as a storehouse. Any or all functionalities, e.g., software functionalities shown and described herein, may be deployed in a cloud environment. Clients, e.g., mobile communication devices such as smartphones, may be operatively associated with, but external to the cloud.

[0127] The scope of the present invention is not limited to structures and functions specifically described herein and is also intended to include devices which have the capacity to yield a structure, or perform a function, described herein, such that even though users of the device may not use the capacity, they are, if they so desire, able to modify the device to obtain the structure or function.

[0128] Any "if -then" logic described herein is intended to include embodiments in which a processor is programmed to repeatedly determine whether condition x, which is sometimes true and sometimes false, is currently true or false, and to perform y each time x is determined to be true, thereby to yield a processor which performs y at least once, typically on an "if and only if" basis, e.g., triggered only by determinations that x is true, and never by determinations that x is false.

[0129] Any determination of a state or condition described herein, and / or other data generated herein, may be harnessed for any suitable technical effect. For example, the determination may be transmitted or fed to any suitable hardware, firmware, or software module, which is known or which is described herein to have capabilities to perform a technical operation responsive to the state or condition. The technical operation may, for example, comprise changing the state or condition, or may more generally cause any outcome which is technically advantageous, given the state or condition or data, and / or may prevent at least one outcome which is disadvantageous, given the state or condition or data. Alternatively, or in addition, an alert may be provided to an appropriate human operator or to an appropriate external system.

[0130] Applicability of the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited to embodiments claimed, nor to solutions for specific disadvantages emphasized herein, nor need any element of any system and method described herein, on its own or in combination with other elements described herein, nor operate only in environments or use-cases or technology areas such as those described herein.

[0131] Features of the present invention, including operations, which are described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. For example, a system embodiment is intended to include a corresponding process embodiment and vice versa. Also, each system embodiment is intended to include a server-centered "view" or client centered "view", or "view" from any other node of the system, of the entire functionality of the system , computer-readable medium, apparatus, including only those functionalities performed at that server or client or node. Features may also be combined with features known in the art, and particularly, although not limited to, those described in the Background section or in publications mentioned therein.

[0132] Conversely, features of the invention, including operations, which are described for brevity in the context of a single embodiment or in a certain order, may be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination, including with features known in the art (particularly, although not limited to, those described in the Background section or in publications mentioned therein) or in a different order, "e.g." is used herein in the sense of a specific example which is not intended to be limiting. Each method may comprise all or any subset of the operations illustrated or described, suitably ordered, e.g., as illustrated or described herein.

[0133] Devices, apparatus or systems shown coupled in any of the drawings may in fact be integrated into a single platform in certain embodiments, or may be coupled via any appropriate wired or wireless coupling, such as but not limited to optical fiber, Ethernet, Wireless LAN, HomePNA, power line communication, cell phone, Smart Phone (e.g. iPhone), Tablet, Laptop, PDA, Blackberry GPRS, Satellite including GPS, or other mobile delivery. It is appreciated that in the description and drawings shown and described herein, functionalities described or illustrated as systems and sub-units thereof, can also be provided as methods and operations therewithin, and functionalities described or illustrated as methods and operations therewithin can also be provided as systems and sub-units thereof. The scale used to illustrate various elements in the drawings is merely exemplary and / or appropriate for clarity of presentation, and is not intended to be limiting.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An improved imaging system operative in conjunction with a single platform and comprising: a single plural-purpose imaging payload including at least a first optical path dedicated to a first imaging mission defining a first line of sight for the payload; a second optical path dedicated to a second imaging mission defining a second light of sight for the payload which differs from said first line of sight; and a payload orientation subsystem, including a hardware processor, for selectably bringing the imaging payload into at least: a first orientation yielding the first line of sight and a second orientation yielding the second line of sight, thereby to yield a single platform configured to execute plural imaging missions including said first and second imaging missions.

2. The system according to Claim 1 wherein the payload is fixed relative to the platform and wherein the payload orientation subsystem comprises a controller configured to selectably control a platform maneuver subsystem included in the single platform to selectably bring the platform, and hence the payload fixed therewithin, into a first orientation yielding the first line of sight, and into a second orientation yielding the second line of sight.

3. The system according to Claim 1 and also comprising: at least one shared optical element which serves both the first imaging mission and the second imaging mission; and at least one connecting optical element connecting the first optical path and the second optical path to the shared optical element.

4. The system according to Claim 3 wherein the shared optical element comprises a telescope.

5. The system according to Claim 4 wherein the telescope comprises a Cassegrain telescope.

6. The system according to Claim 3 wherein the connecting optical element comprises a mirror which splits light from the shared optical element into a transmitted light beam which travels along said first optical path and a reflected light beam which travels along said second optical path.

7. The system according to Claim 6 wherein the mirror comprises a dichroic mirror.

8. The system according to Claim 1 wherein the payload orientation subsystem comprises a controller configured to selectably maneuver the payload into a first orientation yielding the first line of sight, and into a second orientation yielding the second line of sight.

9. An imaging method comprising: providing a plural-purpose platform which includes a single plural-purpose payload (or camera or electro-optical radar) configured to activate plural light detectors for plural imaging missions respectively, thereby to define plural channels corresponding to the plural imaging missions.

10. The method according to Claim 9 wherein the payload includes frontal optics (aka fore optics) which include a telescope and a dichroic mirror deployed after the telescope, to split an incoming light beam.

11. The method according to Claim 10 wherein a first portion of the incoming light beam's frequency spectrum continues towards a first lens group and / or first focal plane array corresponding to a first channel from among said plural channels, and a second portion of the light beam's frequency spectrum returns or is reflected back from the dichroic mirror towards a second lens group and / or second focal plane array corresponding to a second channel from among said plural channels.

12. The method according to Claim 11 wherein the plural channels have different focal lengths, thereby to define plural focal lengths, and wherein the first lens group provides a first focal length for said first portion of the incoming light beam's frequency spectrum, and the second lens group provides a second focal length for said second portion of the incoming light beam's frequency spectrum, thereby to adapt each channel's focal length to respective, different mission requirements.

13. The system according to Claim 1 wherein a pivoting flat mirror, having plural orientations corresponding to the plural imaging missions, is deployed in front of the payload, thereby to precede the payload along the optical path followed by light incoming to the payload.

14. The system according to claim 13 and wherein the system comprises a ground station configured to command the platform to change the payload's line of sight by changing the pivoting flat mirror's orientation.

15. The method according to Claim 9 wherein the plural channels differ in their Field of View (FOV).

16. The method according to Claim 9 wherein the plural channels differ in their line of sight.

17. The method according to Claim 9 wherein the plural imaging missions include a first mission and a second mission and wherein the platform deploys at a first height about ground when performing the first mission, and deploys at a second height above ground, which differs from the first height, when performing the second imaging mission.

18. The method according to Claim 9 wherein the plural channels require different imaging resolutions.

19. The system according to Claim 1 wherein the plural-purpose imaging payload comprises a dual-purpose imaging payload.

20. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for providing a plural-purpose platform which includes a single plural-purpose payload, wherein the computer program product is configured to activate plural light detectors for plural imaging missions respectively, e.g., selectably or upon command, thereby to define, e.g., selectably or upon command, plural channels corresponding to the plural imaging missions.

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