Aircraft Stereoscopic Camera Position-Posture Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current stereoscopic distance measuring apparatuses using stereoscopic cameras on aircraft face challenges in maintaining high measurement precision due to changes in the position and posture of cameras during flight, which affects image orientation and timing synchronization, leading to reduced accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a pair of optical cameras with position-posture meters and GPS receivers, which correct image positions and orientations based on acquired posture information and synchronize image timing using GPS time information to calculate accurate distances to a target, even when cameras are spaced apart on an aircraft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If stereoscopic cameras are mounted on aircraft to measure distance without emitting radio waves, then measurement security is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to camera position and posture changes during flight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement securityVSAvoiddistance measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical measurement system (stereoscopic cameras) with an electromagnetic wave-based system (radar). The radar transmits radio waves to measure distance, eliminating the need for optical cameras that are affected by aircraft movement. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement security (no optical exposure) while achieving stable precision through radar's immunity to position and posture changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from optical image-based distance calculation to radio wave phase/distance-based measurement. By using radar's electromagnetic wave properties instead of optical stereoscopy, the system achieves measurement precision that is independent of camera position and posture parameters, thereby resolving the precision deterioration issue while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If cameras are spaced apart on aircraft to improve stereoscopic measurement capability, then measurement coverage is improved, but image timing synchronization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoidimage timing synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the spaced-apart optical camera system with a centralized radar system. The radar transmitter and receiver are positioned at a single location on the aircraft, eliminating the time synchronization issues that arise from signal transmission delays between spatially separated cameras. This substitution maintains measurement coverage through radar's wide detection range while achieving perfect timing synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If radar is used for distance measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but aircraft position detection by others worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance measurement precisionVSAvoidaircraft position detection by others

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by using optical cameras instead of radar. While radar provides precise measurement, it exposes aircraft position through radio wave emission. By switching to passive optical stereoscopy, the system sacrifices some measurement precision to achieve the benefit of not emitting detectable signals, thereby preventing aircraft position detection by others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10313659B2Stereoscopic distance measuring apparatus, stereoscopic distance measuring method, and computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 SUBARU CORP

AI summary

Provided are a stereoscopic distance measuring apparatus and method, and a computer readable program. The apparatus includes first and second optical cameras, first and second position-posture meters, an image corrector, and a stereoscopic distance measuring unit. The first and second position-posture meters acquire first and second position-posture information regarding the first and second optical cameras. The image corrector corrects, on the basis of the first and second position-posture information, positions and orientations of a plurality of first and second images taken by the first and second optical cameras, to generate a plurality of first and second corrected images. The stereoscopic distance measuring unit calculates a distance to a photographing target, on the basis of a pair of the corrected images including one of the plurality of the first corrected images and one of the plurality of the second corrected images.