Hinged Orbital Camera Rig for Balanced Low-Vibration Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orbital camera systems are typically fixed and unbalanced, leading to vibrations during rotation, limiting their versatility and imaging quality.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible orbital camera system with a motor-driven hub and extensions that rotate about a hinge, featuring a counterweight for balance and adjustable focal elements, centering light, and wireless remote control for versatile configuration and low-vibration imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing orbital camera systems are fixed mounted, then they provide structural stability, but they provide little versatility and cannot be reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components including a hub, multiple extensions with hinges, and detachable focal elements. Each extension can be independently positioned and locked, allowing the system to be segmented and reconfigured for different imaging scenarios while maintaining overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The extensions incorporate hinges that allow dynamic adjustment of extension angles during setup and operation. The motor-driven rotation mechanism also provides dynamic repositioning capability, enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on imaging requirements rather than being fixed in a single position
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing orbital camera systems are unbalanced, then they are simpler to manufacture, but they produce vibration during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight is integrated into the extension assembly, positioned opposite to the camera and focal element assembly. This counterweight balances the rotating mass distribution around the hub, eliminating vibrations during rotation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through straightforward mechanical integration
3Adaptability or versatility
If the camera rotates about the hub, then it can capture images from various angles, but unbalanced rotation causes vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight is specifically positioned to balance the camera and focal element mass during rotation about the hub. This allows the camera to capture images from various angles through motor-driven rotation while the counterweight eliminates vibrations that would otherwise occur during this rotational motion
4Ease of operation
If wired connections are used for power, then the system has stable power supply, but it requires complex wiring during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical wiring system is replaced with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. This substitution eliminates the complexity of rotating wired connections while maintaining reliable power supply to the motor and other electronic components through contactless energy transfer
Data Source
AI summary
An orbital camera system has at least two extensions that extend from a hub to rotate a camera about a hub in a balanced and low vibration manner. In addition, the exemplary orbital camera system is versatile in configuration having extensions with hinges to allow variations in the configuration. The hub may be powered by a motor that provides smooth rotation even at low speeds. The hub is coupled to a down rod and the motor may be detachably attached to the down rod. A counterweight may be a battery or a battery station that enables detachable attachment of a battery thereto. An illumination light is coupled to the hub to provide uniform light over the imaging area. A focal element and/or a centering light emitter may be configured along the rotational axis for aid in placing an object to be imaged.