Diagonal collection of oblique imagery

摘要

A vehicle collects oblique imagery along an intercardinal nominal heading using rotated camera-groups with distortion correcting electronic image sensors that align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground, thereby improving collection quality, efficiency, and/or cost. In a first aspect, the camera-groups are rotated diagonal to the nominal heading. In a second aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground. In a third aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors are rotated around the optical axis of the camera. In a fourth aspect, cameras collect images in strips and the strips from different cameras overlap, providing large-baseline, small-time difference stereopsis.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
capturing complete coverage of a collection area via successive overlapping frames of oblique down-angle imagery along successive nominally parallel collection lines separated by a collection line pitch in accordance with a swath of adjacent strips of composite imagery of the overlapping frames; and operating at least one camera-group with at least one optical axis nominally rotated by a predetermined oblique plan angle relative to a nominal axis of travel to achieve a corresponding predetermined swath width greater than achieved by operating the at least one optical axis nominally parallel to the nominal axis of travel.