Camera-Based Wind Speed And Direction From Atmospheric Turbulence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind speed and direction determination systems require specialized and bulky equipment, making deployment difficult and costly, and are not accessible to all users.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using standard camera hardware and software to analyze atmospheric turbulence-induced image distortions for wind speed and direction determination, eliminating the need for additional equipment and providing accurate wind data for ballistic calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If specialized equipment is used to determine wind speed and direction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses standard camera hardware to capture images that copy the visual scene, then analyzes atmospheric turbulence effects on these copied images to determine wind parameters. This replaces specialized wind measurement equipment with ubiquitous camera systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability through computational analysis of image distortions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical wind measurement systems with an optical-computational system. Instead of using physical anemometers or specialized sensors, the system uses camera-based image capture combined with computational algorithms to analyze atmospheric turbulence effects, thereby substituting mechanical systems with optical and computational approaches that leverage standard hardware
2Measurement precision
If specialized equipment is used to determine wind speed and direction, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses standard camera hardware and software that are already available in most devices, making the wind measurement capability self-serviceable and easily deployable. The computational algorithms automatically process images to extract wind information without requiring specialized training or complex setup, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If active illumination or target equipment is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera system multi-functional by using it both for its primary imaging purpose and for wind measurement through atmospheric turbulence analysis. This eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment, as the standard camera performs dual functions, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining measurement precision through software-based analysis
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate wind speed and direction measurement using existing camera systems, improving ballistic accuracy and making this technology accessible to a wider range of users without the SWaP concerns of additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
analyzes distortion and warping of video images caused naturally in image captures affected by atmospheric turbulence
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for determining wind speed includes an image capture device, a memory, and a computer-readable medium. The image capture device captures video and the memory stores the video. The computer-readable medium includes a computer program product stored thereon, and the computer program product is configured to determine a wind speed in the scene based on analysis of atmospheric turbulence occurring in the video. The method may include comparing a set of models to an analyzed video to determine the wind speed.