Lightweight Rotating Pan Head for Discontinuous Time-Lapse Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current off-the-shelf photographic equipment for documenting as-built conditions in construction projects is bulky, time-consuming to set up, and lacks built-in measurement capabilities for accurately positioning and repositioning lightweight digital imaging devices, such as smartphones, to create high-quality discontinuous time-lapse image sequences.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing lightweight laser measurement technology and a rotating apparatus that allows for precise positioning and repositioning of imaging devices weighing less than 8 ounces, enabling 360-degree compass heading and 160-180 degree pitch adjustments, with features for generating and matching profiles of the built environment to align images over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional off-the-shelf photographic equipment is used, then measurement capabilities and positioning accuracy are improved, but equipment weight and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the positioning function into two parts: a lightweight pan head for holding the imaging device, and a separate laser measurement device for capturing spatial data. This segmentation allows the pan head to remain lightweight while the measurement capabilities are provided by the separate laser device, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and equipment weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a computer as an intermediary that processes data from both the pan head sensors and the laser measurement device. The computer integrates information from these separate sources to achieve accurate positioning and repositioning, allowing the physical components to remain lightweight while maintaining measurement precision through computational processing.
2Ease of operation
If conventional automatic pan heads are used, then positioning capability is improved, but device portability and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by allowing flexible positioning without requiring complex setup procedures. The pan head can be quickly mounted on various tripods or stable surfaces, and the laser measurement device can be positioned anywhere to capture the necessary spatial data, greatly simplifying the setup process and improving portability.
3Weight of moving object
If lightweight imaging devices are used, then equipment portability is improved, but built-in measurement capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple sources: the pan head's sensors (which track the imaging device's orientation), the laser measurement device (which captures spatial coordinates of reference features), and the computer (which processes and integrates this information). This combination compensates for the lack of built-in measurement capabilities in lightweight imaging devices while maintaining measurement precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If precise positioning systems are used, then image alignment quality is improved, but setup time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing laser measurements of the environment's reference features during the initial setup. These measurements are processed to create a spatial model that enables automatic positioning and alignment during subsequent time-lapse image capture, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual positioning and alignment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method and an apparatus for use with an imaging device weighing less than eight ounces, such as a lightweight digital camera or a camera-equipped cell phone, in conjunction with a base apparatus capable of locating and re-locate the imaging device relative to a built environment, and generating and displaying discontinuous time-lapse image sequences. The inventive apparatus provides for the rotation of the attached imaging device to capture a set of images that provide complete coverage of the items and features that are visible from the location of the apparatus or to duplicate an image taken from any compass heading and pitch reachable by the apparatus.