Dynamic Frame Rate Adjustment for Earth Observation Data Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current earth observation systems face challenges in managing high data volumes due to platform attitude variations, which require increased frame rates and exceed downlink and storage capacities, especially in multispectral and hyperspectral imaging.
Innovation Solution
A method that acquires a series of partially overlapping images from a camera on an aircraft or spacecraft, using position and orientation information to determine optimal time intervals for image capture, allowing for the minimization of acquired images while maintaining spatial overlap, and adjusting intervals to discard unnecessary frames, thereby reducing storage and transmission needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frame rate is increased to avoid gaps in imaging due to platform attitude variation, then coverage completeness is improved, but data volume increases beyond downlink and storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate based on real-time platform attitude variation. When attitude variation is small, the frame rate is reduced to minimize data volume. When attitude variation increases, the frame rate is increased to prevent gaps in coverage. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the frame rate flexible rather than fixed, allowing the system to maintain coverage completeness only when necessary while minimizing data volume during stable platform conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of frame rate based on the magnitude of platform attitude variation. By monitoring attitude parameters and adjusting the frame rate accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between coverage completeness and data volume. This parameter change approach allows the system to operate at lower frame rates during stable conditions and switch to higher frame rates only when attitude variation threatens coverage gaps.
2Area of stationary object
If frame rate is increased to compensate for platform movement, then spatial coverage is improved, but storage and transmission capacity are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate based on real-time platform attitude variation. When attitude variation is small, the frame rate is reduced to minimize data volume. When attitude variation increases, the frame rate is increased to prevent gaps in coverage. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the frame rate flexible rather than fixed, allowing the system to maintain coverage completeness only when necessary while minimizing data volume during stable platform conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If more images are acquired to maintain spatial overlap despite attitude variations, then image quality is improved, but number of images to be stored increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of frame rate based on the magnitude of platform attitude variation. By monitoring attitude parameters and adjusting the frame rate accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between coverage completeness and data volume. This parameter change approach allows the system to operate at lower frame rates during stable conditions and switch to higher frame rates only when attitude variation threatens coverage gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and utilizes platform attitude variation information to selectively determine frame rate. By taking out the attitude variation parameter and using it to control the imaging process, the system avoids acquiring unnecessary images during stable conditions while ensuring sufficient overlap when attitude variation occurs. This extraction approach allows the system to focus only on the critical periods when additional images are needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention pertains to a method for taking partially overlapping images of a ground surface from a camera arranged in an aircraft or a spacecraft, the method comprising: while said aircraft or said spacecraft is moving, acquiring (110) images at different instants in time, separated by time intervals; detecting (130), during said moving, position information representative of a position and orientation information representative of an orientation of said aircraft of said spacecraft; using said position information, said orientation information, and the camera's viewing angle to determine (140; 150) maximal values of time intervals for which images with a predetermined amount of spatial overlap can be obtained; and adjusting (160) said intervals towards said maximal values so as to minimize the number of said acquired images while maintaining said predetermined amount of spatial overlap. The invention also pertains to a controller and a system comprising a controller.