Aerial Imaging Coregistration via Key Sensor Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote sensing technologies face challenges in coregistering and stacking imagery from multiple sensors with unique perspectives, which complicates the alignment and integration of data from different sensors due to varying interior and exterior orientations, as well as terrain variations.
Innovation Solution
An aerial imaging system comprising a platform with multiple image sensors and a spatial sensor, where a key sensor's exterior orientation is determined using position data from a spatial sensor, and non-key sensors' orientations are calculated relative to the key sensor, allowing for simultaneous image data collection and coregistration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors with unique perspectives are used to collect image data, then the coverage and information diversity are improved, but the coregistration and stacking accuracy deteriorate due to varying interior and exterior orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a key sensor as an intermediary reference point. The exterior orientation of non-key sensors is determined relative to the key sensor's exterior orientation, which itself is determined from spatial sensor data. This intermediary reference system enables coregistration of multiple sensors with unique perspectives by establishing a common coordinate framework, resolving the contradiction between perspective diversity and coregistration accuracy.
2Loss of information
If sensors are mounted at different positions and orientations to capture unique perspectives, then the information completeness is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple interior and exterior orientation parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the orientation determination process into distinct components: interior orientation parameters for each sensor are determined separately, then exterior orientation is established relative to a key sensor. This segmentation allows complex multi-sensor orientation problems to be broken down into manageable steps, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining information completeness from multiple perspectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The key sensor serves multiple functions: it acts as a reference for determining exterior orientations of other sensors, provides spatial data through the spatial sensor, and enables coregistration of imagery from all sensors. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity by consolidating reference functions into a single sensor system.
3Measurement precision
If lens distortion and terrain variations are accounted for to improve positional accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs interior orientation determination and exterior orientation establishment as preliminary actions before actual imagery coregistration. By pre-determining the orientation parameters and establishing the reference framework in advance, the system reduces computational complexity and processing time during the actual coregistration operation, while still accounting for lens distortion and terrain variations.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial imaging system includes a platform capable of moving through the air, a spatial sensor, a plurality of image sensors mounted to the platform and a computer. The spatial sensor collects position data indicating the position of the platform. The plurality of image sensors includes a key sensor and at least one non-key sensor. The computer includes a storage device and a processor configured to execute instructions comprising the steps of (i) controlling the plurality of image sensors to collect image data simultaneously, (ii) determining the exterior orientation of the key sensor based on the position data, and (iii) determining the exterior orientation of at least one non-key sensor based on the exterior orientation of the key sensor.