Electromechanical Stabilization for Airborne Camera Jitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airborne video cameras experience excessive image jitter due to small, fast pointing errors and larger-amplitude, slower pointing errors, leading to the need for large, heavy, and complex mechanical stabilization systems.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical stabilization system that combines inter-frame stabilization based on vehicle velocity and camera pan rate with mechanical stabilization, using electronic image stabilization to remove small-amplitude jitter and feeding adjustments to a mechanical gimbal system for large-amplitude corrections, thereby reducing the need for heavy mechanical systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If purely mechanical stabilization techniques are used to reduce image jitter, then image quality is improved, but system weight and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization system is segmented into multiple functional components: a mechanical gimbal system for coarse stabilization, an electronic image stabilization system for fine stabilization, and a control system that coordinates both. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific aspects of jitter reduction, achieving high precision without requiring a single oversized mechanical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces portions of the mechanical stabilization function with an electronic image stabilization system. This electronic system uses image processing and display adjustment to compensate for residual jitter that the mechanical gimbal cannot eliminate, thereby reducing the burden on the mechanical system and overall system weight.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple nested mechanical stages of stabilization are used, then image jitter is reduced to acceptable levels, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges mechanical stabilization and electronic stabilization into a unified hybrid system. The mechanical gimbal handles large-amplitude, low-frequency jitter while the electronic system handles small-amplitude, high-frequency jitter. This merging allows the system to achieve comprehensive stabilization without the complexity of multiple nested mechanical stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the mechanical gimbal and electronic image stabilization. It processes feedback from both systems, determines the appropriate corrective actions, and ensures they work together harmoniously, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining high precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If refined mechanical stabilization techniques are applied, then image stream quality is improved, but system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical gimbal system is designed to provide partial stabilization, handling only the most significant portions of jitter (large-amplitude, low-frequency components). The electronic image stabilization then provides the remaining correction, ensuring complete stabilization without requiring the mechanical system to be oversized for complete stabilization alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for stabilizing images being taken by a video camera using electromechanical stabilization. The stabilization system performs inter-frame stabilization based on the velocity of a vehicle on which the video camera is mounted and the pan rate of a line-of-sight controller of the video camera. The inter-frame stabilization is performed by a software component by moving a display area (or viewport) within a larger image area. The stabilization system converts an inter-frame stabilization adjustment into a pan rate adjustment so that the line-of-sight controller will keep the desired object within the image area of the camera.