Digital Image Stabilization for Moving Overhead Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional persistent video sensors struggle with interpreting frame-to-frame image changes caused by motion in overhead platforms, leading to complications in human and machine recognition of targets and features, especially in applications with wide fields of view and high angular rates.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a movable imaging platform with a single sensor to calculate and apply transformations to captured images, digitally correcting for relative motion between the platform and the scene, ensuring images appear as if taken by a non-moving platform, while identifying and monitoring 3-D features with predictable motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional persistent video sensors are used on moving overhead platforms, then the sensors can capture images of the scene, but frame-to-frame image changes occur due to platform motion causing complications in target and feature recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical stabilization systems with digital image processing. Instead of using complex mechanical gimbals or stabilization mechanisms to physically counteract platform motion, the system captures images during motion and applies computational transformations to correct for the motion effects, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while improving target recognition reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary geometric transformations to images before they are displayed or analyzed. By pre-correcting for platform motion effects through calculated transformations, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time stabilization and simplifies subsequent target recognition processes
2Manufacturing precision
If digital transformations are applied to correct frame-to-frame image changes, then image quality is enhanced and target recognition is facilitated, but additional digital processing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated transformation applications. The system automatically calculates and applies geometric corrections to images without requiring manual intervention or complex external processing systems. The transformations are applied programmatically based on platform motion parameters, reducing the need for additional complex processing infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes image geometric parameters through mathematical transformations. By applying calculated transformations that modify pixel coordinates and geometric properties, the system corrects for platform motion effects, achieving high geometric accuracy while using standard digital processing capabilities rather than complex specialized hardware
3Measurement precision
If conventional stereo photogrammetric systems are used to create 3-D maps, then two disparate views of the scene are collected, but height estimates have large errors typically a multiple of the ground sample distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts height information directly from transformed 2-D images without requiring complex stereo photogrammetric systems. By removing the need for multiple sensors and complex 3-D mapping algorithms, the system achieves improved height estimation accuracy through simpler image transformation and analysis techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates accurate 2-D transformed images that serve as sufficient copies for height estimation, eliminating the need for actual 3-D maps. The transformed images contain all necessary geometric information for accurate height measurement, reducing system complexity while improving measurement precision
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging platform minimizes inter-frame image changes when there is relative motion of the imaging platform with respect to the scene being imaged, where the imaging platform may be particularly susceptible to image change, especially when it is configured with a wide field of view or high angular rate of movement. In one embodiment, a system is configured to capture images and comprises: a movable imaging platform having a sensor that is configured to capture images of a scene, each image comprising a plurality of pixels; and an image processor configured to: digitally transform captured images with respect to a common field of view (FOV) such that the transformed images appear to be taken by a non-moving imaging platform, wherein the pixel size and orientation of pixels of each transformed image are the same. A method for measuring and displaying 3-D features is also described.