Aerial Imaging Wide Narrow Stitching Using Dual Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Precision agriculture imagery faces challenges in stitching together successive passes of captured images into a stitched output image due to the need for significant overlap between adjacent passes, which limits the area that can be captured within a given time while maintaining the required spatial resolution.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple image capture devices with different fields of view, where one camera provides high spatial resolution images and another provides a wider field of view, allowing for reduced overlap and increased coverage without compromising spatial resolution, enabling more efficient image stitching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple high-resolution images are captured with significant overlap to ensure stitching quality, then image stitching reliability is improved, but the area coverage per unit time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging task into two segments: a first image capture device (wide-angle camera) captures overlapping images for stitching reliability, while a second image capture device (telephoto camera) captures high-resolution images for precision analysis. This segmentation allows each device to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between stitching reliability and area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a multi-functional aerial vehicle system that performs both wide-area mapping and precision agricultural analysis simultaneously. The first image capture device provides universal coverage for stitching, while the second device provides specialized high-resolution capture, allowing the system to achieve both stitching reliability and efficient area coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple high-resolution images are captured to cover a large area, then area coverage is improved, but image quality for precision analysis deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging functions by assigning the first image capture device (wide-angle) to cover large areas with overlapping shots, while the second image capture device (telephoto) captures high-resolution images of specific regions. This segmentation ensures that area coverage and image quality are optimized by different devices performing different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using the telephoto camera to capture high-resolution images only in specific local areas that require precision agricultural analysis, while the wide-angle camera handles the broader area coverage. This allows the system to maintain high image quality where needed without sacrificing overall area coverage efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex image analysis algorithms are used to align and stitch multiple images, then stitching precision is improved, but computational time and intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stitching process by using the wide-angle images from the first image capture device to establish the overall geometric framework and alignment, then using the telephoto images from the second device to refine local details. This segmentation reduces the computational burden compared to processing all high-resolution images through complex algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the wide-angle images from the first image capture device as an intermediary framework that guides the stitching process. This intermediary provides a coarse alignment that simplifies the subsequent refinement using telephoto images, reducing the overall computational time and intensity while maintaining stitching precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter provides a technical solution for various technical problems associated with precision agriculture imagery. A technical solution for stitching together successive passes of captured images may include using multiple image capture devices, where the image capture devices have different fields of view. A first camera may be used to provide a first field of view (FOV), and may be configured to provide a selected ground sample distance (GSD) for precision agriculture imagery analysis. A second camera may be used to provide a wider FOV, and may be used to provide sufficient stitching process overlap between images captured in successive passes.