Steerable Detail Camera Modules for Wide-Area Aerial Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aerial camera systems require high overlap in aerial photos for accurate orthomosaic creation, which is costly in terms of flying time and processing, and are limited by aircraft-specific camera pods and constrained space, affecting operational flexibility and image resolution.
Innovation Solution
The HyperCamera system employs steerable detail camera modules with beam-steering mechanisms and a combination of overview and detail cameras, allowing for reduced overlap without compromising accuracy, and is modular for installation on various aircraft, enabling flexible operation and higher capture efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high overlap (60% longitudinal, 40% lateral) is used for accurate orthomosaic creation, then orthomosaic accuracy is improved, but flying time and processing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic camera system that can change its field of view and resolution during flight. The camera alternates between wide-angle overview mode and telephoto detail mode, allowing the system to capture sufficient geographic coverage with reduced overlap while maintaining orthomosaic accuracy through multi-resolution image fusion. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the overlap requirement variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes imaging parameters (field of view angle, resolution, focal length) based on flight progress and terrain requirements. By switching between different camera modes with different parameters, the system reduces the required overlap percentage while maintaining accuracy. The parameter changes allow flexible adjustment of the trade-off between coverage area and image detail quality.
2Measurement precision
If high overlap is used for accurate orthomosaic creation, then orthomosaic accuracy is improved, but processing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging task into two distinct functions: overview capture and detail capture. Overview images with lower resolution require less overlap and are processed separately from detail images. This segmentation allows the system to reduce overall processing workload while maintaining accuracy through the combination of segmented results, directly addressing the productivity-accuracy contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by capturing detail images only at specific locations where high resolution is required, rather than uniformly across the entire survey area. Overview images provide partial coverage that reduces the need for extensive detail image overlap, thereby reducing total processing requirements while maintaining necessary accuracy levels.
3Stability of the object's composition
If aircraft-specific camera pods are used, then camera stability is improved, but adaptability to different aircraft and operational parameters decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a camera system with universal mounting capabilities that can be installed on various aircraft types without requiring aircraft-specific customization. The system uses standardized mounting interfaces and power connections, allowing the same camera unit to operate on different aircraft platforms. This universality maintains camera stability through rigid mounting while achieving broad aircraft compatibility.
4Volume of moving object
If constrained space within camera pod is used, then pod compactness is improved, but camera lens size and focal length range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic lens system that can change focal length during operation. The zoom lens mechanism allows the camera to switch between wide-angle and telephoto configurations within the constrained pod space. This dynamic focal length adjustment enables the system to achieve variable image resolution and field of view without requiring multiple fixed lenses, thereby overcoming the space-resolution contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system uses a nested optical design where the zoom lens elements are arranged in a compact, space-efficient configuration within the pod. The lens components are nested within each other, allowing the mechanism to achieve a wide focal length range while maintaining a small overall footprint. This nesting approach maximizes the use of constrained space to deliver required image resolution.
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
The HyperCamera system reduces survey flying time and processing requirements while maintaining accuracy, offering greater operational flexibility and efficiency in capturing aerial images across a range of altitudes and resolutions.
Implementation Method 1
each steerable detail camera module comprising a detail camera and a beam-steering mechanism in the optical path of the camera whereby the pointing direction of the camera is time-multiplexed
Data Source
AI summary
A system for capturing aerial images, the system comprising at least one camera unit, the camera unit comprising a plurality of steerable detail camera modules, each steerable detail camera module comprising a detail camera and a beam-steering mechanism in the optical path of the camera whereby the pointing direction of the camera is time-multiplexed to provide a wider effective field of view.