초록 ▼

An aerial reconnaissance system generates imagery of a scene that meets resolution or field of view objectives automatically and autonomously. In one embodiment, a passive method of automatically calculating range to the target from a sequence of airborne reconnaissance camera images is used. Range

An aerial reconnaissance system generates imagery of a scene that meets resolution or field of view objectives automatically and autonomously. In one embodiment, a passive method of automatically calculating range to the target from a sequence of airborne reconnaissance camera images is used. Range information is use for controlling the adjustment of a zoom lens to yield frame-to-frame target imagery that has a desired, e.g., constant, ground resolution or field of view at the center of the image despite rapid and significant aircraft altitude and attitude changes. Image to image digital correlation is used to determine the displacement of the target at the focal plane. Camera frame rate and aircraft INS/GPS information is used to accurately determine the frame to frame distance (baseline). The calculated range to target is then used to drive a zoom lens servo mechanism to the proper focal length to yield the desired resolution or field of view for the next image. The method may be performed based on parameters other than range, such as aircraft height and stand off distance.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An autonomous aerial reconnaissance camera system for imaging a scene of interest suitable for carriage by a reconnaissance vehicle, comprising:(a) an electro-optical imaging detector array comprising a plurality of pixel elements arranged in rows and columns;(b) a zoom l

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An autonomous aerial reconnaissance camera system for imaging a scene of interest suitable for carriage by a reconnaissance vehicle, comprising:(a) an electro-optical imaging detector array comprising a plurality of pixel elements arranged in rows and columns;(b) a zoom lens system, comprising a zoom lens for imaging a scene external of said reconnaissance vehicle onto said imaging detector array and a drive system for adjusting the focal length of said zoom lens; and(c) a camera control system for said imaging array and said zoom lens system, comprising:i.) a memory storing information as to field of view, resolution, or image interpretability rating objectives for imagery to be generated by said imaging array; andii.) a camera control computer for receiving (a) aircraft navigation data generated by a navigation system on-board said reconnaissance vehicle and (b) either range-to-scene information or aircraft height and stand-off distance data for said scene of interest, and responsively generating commands for said imaging array,iii.) said camera control system further comprising a zoom lens adjustment module generating commands for said drive system for said zoom lens to adjust said focal length of said zoom lens from said range-to-scene information or aircraft height and stand-off distance data and said information stored in said memory;(d) said camera control computer, zoom lens, and electro-optical imaging detector array cooperating to generate an image meeting said field of view, resolution, or image interpretability rating objectives and enabling said field of view, resolution, or ground-resolvable distance objectives to be obtained without real-time operator involvement.