Wide Area Intermittent Video via Repeat-Pass Sensor Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional video imaging systems face limitations in capturing wide area imagery with high spatial resolution at reduced temporal frame rates, often requiring expensive and complex systems, and struggle with precise spatial co-registration of multi-temporal images, especially in scenarios with varying terrain and oblique viewing angles.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using global navigation satellite systems to guide aircraft or satellites along specific flight paths, triggering imaging sensors at predetermined stations to collect repeat pass imagery, allowing for precise spatial co-registration and creation of wide area intermittent video (WAIV) mosaics by aligning image frames from the same sensor stations, even with different viewing geometries, using techniques like projective or second-order polynomial transformations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional video imaging systems are used to capture wide area imagery with high spatial resolution, then spatial resolution is improved, but temporal frame rate decreases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic repeat-pass imaging where the airborne platform returns to predetermined sensor stations at regular intervals to capture images. This periodic action allows high spatial resolution imagery to be collected at reduced temporal frame rates, as the sensor only needs to capture images at specific intervals when the platform passes over the same area, rather than requiring continuous high-speed imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The wide area is divided into multiple predetermined sensor stations along flight paths. Instead of capturing the entire area continuously, the system segments the imaging task into discrete stations that are visited periodically. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide area coverage through multiple high-resolution snapshots rather than requiring continuous high-frame-rate imaging of the entire area.
2Measurement precision
If traditional video imaging systems are used to capture wide area imagery, then spatial resolution is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single airborne imaging platform that performs multiple functions: it visits multiple predetermined sensor stations, captures images at each station, and collects data from different temporal instances. This universal platform replaces the need for multiple specialized systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high spatial resolution capability across wide areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the imaging platform by controlling its flight path to return to specific sensor stations at predetermined intervals. By changing the temporal and spatial parameters of image collection (rather than requiring continuous imaging), the system achieves wide area high-resolution monitoring with simpler equipment that doesn't need ultra-high frame-rate capabilities.
3Area of stationary object
If images are collected with different viewing geometries, then wide area coverage is improved, but spatial co-registration accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by precisely controlling the platform to return to the same predetermined sensor stations with consistent viewing geometries. Before image collection, the flight paths and sensor positions are pre-planned to ensure repeatable viewing angles. This preliminary positioning ensures that images collected at different times and locations can be accurately co-registered, maintaining spatial precision while achieving wide area coverage through multiple stations.
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to techniques for obtaining wide area intermittent video (WAIV). Some embodiments disclosed herein include a method of obtaining WAIV. The method can include, for example, capturing images at a series of sensor stations having pre-determined locations along a flightline. The flightline can be repeated one or more times, where images are captured at the same sensor stations with each pass of the flightline. The captured images from the same sensor station may have replicated view geometry and may be co-registered and precisely aligned with pixel-level precision. The captured images from multiple sensor stations through time may also be displayed together based upon absolute or relative sensor station locations to create a temporal sequence of wide area intermittent video. The approach provides efficient methods for creating wide area video with reduced temporal imaging frame rates. Systems and devices for forming wide area intermittent video are also disclosed.