Rotating Mirror Aerial Mapping System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aerial mapping technologies using standard focal-length lenses are limited by altitude, requiring multiple passes to cover large areas, which is time-consuming and costly, and struggle with efficient sweeping of the field of view without moving heavy high-focal length cameras.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a combination of high-focal length lenses and rotating mirrors to sweep the field of view, allowing cameras to capture images from higher altitudes with fewer passes, using synchronized mirrors driven by a low recoil belt or actuator to oscillate the field of view across a wide angle without moving the cameras, enabling efficient 3D mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard focal-length lenses are used, then the camera weight is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the altitude is limited requiring multiple passes to cover large areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a rotating mirror assembly that dynamically sweeps the field of view across a wide angle range (80-90 degrees) while the aircraft remains stationary relative to the ground. This dynamic sweeping mechanism allows the system to achieve high-altitude coverage without moving the heavy camera, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and area coverage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating mirror acts as an intermediary between the camera and the ground area. Instead of moving the camera to cover larger areas, the mirror redirects the camera's field of view across the desired area, enabling high-altitude imaging without physically relocating the heavy camera equipment.
2Productivity
If high-focal length lenses are used, then the altitude is increased for better area coverage, but the camera weight increases and becomes difficult to move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy camera from the moving component role. The high-focal length camera remains stationary on the aircraft, while the rotating mirror assembly (lighter weight) performs the sweeping motion. This separation allows the heavy camera to maintain its high-altitude imaging capability without the burden of movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system makes the mirror assembly dynamic while keeping the camera static. The mirror rotates to sweep the field of view across the ground area, enabling the heavy camera to cover large areas without physically moving, thus resolving the weight versus coverage contradiction.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple passes are made to cover large areas, then the area coverage is improved, but the time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating mirror enables a single pass to cover a wide area by dynamically sweeping the field of view across 80-90 degrees. This eliminates the need for multiple passes over the same area, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining comprehensive area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror sweeping mechanism allows continuous imaging across the entire desired area during a single aircraft pass. The field of view continuously scans from one side to the other, ensuring no gaps in coverage and eliminating the time loss associated with multiple sequential passes.
4Area of stationary object
If the camera is swept across a wide angle, then the area coverage is improved, but the field of view coverage is not efficiently swept without moving heavy cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating mirror serves as an intermediary that enables wide-angle coverage without moving the heavy camera. The mirror assembly (simpler, lighter component) performs the sweeping function, while the camera remains stationary. This resolves the complexity issue by using a simpler sweeping mechanism instead of moving the entire heavy camera system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for more extensive area coverage in fewer passes, reducing time and expense while maintaining high-resolution imaging, with improved 3D quality and reduced parallax effects at higher altitudes.
Implementation Method 1
rotating mirrors to sweep the field of view
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes an aerial survey camera system. The system includes two or more cameras mounted on a bracket and one or mirrors that are rotated simultaneously perpendicular to the aircraft's movement by a motor. Mirrors may be driven and/or synchronized on separate shafts using a low recoil band. The motor positions the cameras in the planned angles and stops their rotation, while the controller commands the cameras to capture the images. Optionally the aircraft crosses an area of interest in parallel lines of flight at opposite directions, for example to facility covering all viewing angles with a small number of cameras. The invention further discloses methods for efficient flight management utilizing the disclosed system.