Forward motion compensated flight path

摘要

With reference to FIG. 1, camera 12 mounted on airframe 10 captures an image of first field of view 20 along first optical axis 21 aimed at first object of interest 23. During the time of exposure, airframe 10 flies first flight path arc 22 centered on first object of interest 23 with a radius substantially equal to the distance between camera 12 and first object of interest 23. Airframe 10 pivots camera 12 around first object of interest 23 while the shutter in camera 12 is open. This is repeated around each subsequent object of interest to produce a scalloped or slalom path, namely Forward Motion Compensated (FMC) flight path 33.

主权项

1. An aerial photography system to take an image of an object, comprising:
an airframe, a camera mounted on said airframe, a shutter for said camera, distance estimating means to estimate an object distance between said camera and said object, an autopilot to direct said airframe to fly an arc centered on said object with a radius substantially equal to said object distance while said shutter is open, whereby blur in said image from motion of said airframe is substantially reduced.