Distributed Aperture System Real-Time Image Stitching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for automatic stitching of high-resolution images from multiple sensors are not suitable for real-time processing, limiting their application in high-performance environments such as aircraft or movable platforms where simultaneous image generation from multiple cameras is required.
Innovation Solution
A distributed aperture system that determines the display line of sight and field of view, maps these to a set of sensors, identifies the minimum image capture area, processes image data, and generates a combined image for the operator display, using transformations and clipping to optimize image processing and reduce data volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor images are combined in real-time to provide wide-angle coverage, then situational awareness and viewing flexibility are improved, but processing complexity and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the wide field of view into multiple sensor-specific sub-fields, with each sensor processing only its relevant portion. The coordinate transformation and clipping operations segment the overall processing task into independent per-sensor operations, reducing computational complexity while maintaining the combined wide-angle view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses coordinate system transformations to map three-dimensional sensor data into a unified display coordinate space. By transforming coordinates and applying clipping planes, the system efficiently manages the complexity of combining multiple sensor views without requiring exhaustive processing of all sensor data.
2Measurement precision
If coordinate transformations and clipping operations are applied to each sensor, then image processing precision and viewing accuracy are improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates clipping planes and coordinate transformation parameters for each sensor based on the desired field of view. By preparing these transformation matrices and clipping boundaries in advance, the system reduces real-time processing requirements while maintaining precise viewing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the relevant portions of each sensor's field of view that contribute to the final composite image. By applying clipping operations to remove unnecessary data before processing, the system reduces computational load while preserving the precision of the required viewing areas.
3Productivity
If the minimum image capture area is identified for each sensor, then data processing efficiency is improved, but the amount of data that must be processed initially increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and processes only the minimum necessary image capture area from each sensor that contributes to the final display. By identifying and processing only these essential regions rather than entire sensor outputs, the system improves processing efficiency while managing data volume effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the processing task into identifying minimum capture areas for each sensor, then processes only those specific regions. This segmentation approach reduces the overall data volume requiring intensive processing while maintaining complete coverage of the desired field of view.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displaying images captured by a distributed aperture system (DAS) includes determining a display line of sight (LOS) and display field of view (FOV) corresponding to an operator display of a DAS, mapping the display LOS and the display FOV to a set of sensors of a plurality of sensors of the DAS, for each sensor of the set of sensors: identifying a set of sensor elements that define a minimum image capture area corresponding to the display LOS and the display FOV, processing image data collected by the identified set of sensor elements; and generating an image for the operator display from the processed image data.