Aircraft Camera Calibration Using HUD Boresight Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning camera sensors on aircraft are cumbersome and lack sufficient accuracy, especially for safe landing and autonomous operations, necessitating more efficient and accurate extrinsic calibration.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing an existing heads-up display (HUD) and a camera to determine the rotational relationship between the camera and the aircraft's boresight by identifying known boresight features in the camera image and applying transformations to align pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If careful measurement of camera installation angles is performed, then alignment accuracy is improved, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual measurement and mechanical alignment procedures with an automated image processing system. The system uses a camera to capture images of boresight features, then applies image processing and transformation algorithms to automatically determine the rotational relationship between the camera and aircraft boresight, eliminating the need for cumbersome physical measurement tools and procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital representation (image) of the boresight features and uses computational transformations to align this digital copy with the known boresight coordinate system. This digital copying and transformation approach replaces physical measurement and alignment, significantly reducing calibration time while maintaining high accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If manual measurement methods are used for camera alignment, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing HUD boresight features serve multiple functions: they act as both the display element and the calibration reference target. The same boresight features used for flight information display are also used as the calibration target for camera alignment, eliminating the need for separate calibration targets or additional specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing resources (the HUD boresight display and camera) to perform the calibration function. The camera captures images of the boresight features that are already present in the flight deck, and the processing system uses these self-generated images to calculate alignment parameters, making the system self-calibrating without external intervention.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise physical measurement of camera installation is performed, then alignment accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement and adjustment operations with automated image capture and computational processing. Instead of requiring technicians to physically measure and adjust camera mounting angles, the system automatically captures images of boresight features and computes the rotational relationship through software transformations, dramatically simplifying the operational process.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method utilizing an existing boresighted HUD and a camera (106) to determine the transformational and rotational relationships between the camera image and the boresighted HUD image of an aircraft to properly orient the camera (106) for landing operations. Known boresight features are identified in a HUD image and are related to the same boresight features in a camera image, and transformations are applied to align pixels in the camera image to the pixel locations of the boresight features in the HUD image. Object recognition algorithms may be employed to identify the boresight features in the camera image.