OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

• US 20090015674A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Lopez, Roger, Somers, Richard, Alley, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,581,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/144
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/025 by scanning the object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

An optical imaging system and associated methods for capturing images from an aircraft, such as a UAV. A camera unit on-board the aircraft is remotely controlled from an image control station. The image control station receives image data from the camera unit, and also delivers control signals for determining a viewing mode of the image.

Claims

1. An optical imaging system, for mounting on an aircraft for airborne image capture and for delivery of images to a remote image control station, comprising:

a camera unit for acquiring full field of view images, the camera unit having at least one sensor mounted on the underside of the aircraft;

a processing unit for processing pixel data from the sensor and for interpreting command signals from the image control station;

an encoder for formatting the pixel data into NTSC signal;

a radio unit having a receiver for receiving control signals from the image control station and a transmitter for delivering the NTSC signal to the image control station;

wherein the control signals determine which of a set of viewing modes of the image will be transmitted to the control station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit has an array of sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit has a single sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the viewing mode is a region of interest selected from the full field of view.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is implemented with at least a UART.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is programmed to poll the radio unit to determine if control signals have been received.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signals represent commands to zoom, pan, or tilt the image.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit has multiple sensors, and the control signal represents a command to pan, tilt, or zoom the image from any of the sensors.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit has multiple sensors, wherein the sensors are mounted on different planes, and wherein the processing unit is programmed to project the images to a common plane.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the viewing modes includes at least a tracking mode for tracking an object of interest, and wherein the tracking mode accommodates the flight of the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the viewing modes include at least a tracking mode for tracking a region of interest, and wherein the tracking mode accommodates the flight of the aircraft.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the modes is a fixed area zoom mode, which provides an image of the same physical area on the ground as the UAV changes altitude.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the modes is a route tracking mode, which provides images of a pre-determined route on the ground.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit has a field of view based on an expected flight altitude and a desired pixel density per foot on the ground.