Optomechancial design for realtime image processing

Abstract

Single and multi-sensor imaging systems are being improved every day through the use of image processing, but there are limits to what software can do alone. The capabilities of image processing software can be improved by careful design of the optical and mechanical components of the imaging system. This paper explores the interaction between opto-mechanical design and real-time image processing for airborne imaging systems. We discuss the design of components for multiple imager systems to support both visual and assisted target recognition applications. Critical concepts include boresight alignment, low distortion optics, and pixel matching across multiple imagers for both image fusion and multi-spectral target detection. Incorporation of these concepts into our latest designs has enhanced both image quality and the effectiveness of our imaging systems. In this paper, we discuss opto-mechanical design considerations for individual cameras and look at the tradeoffs between mechanical and software design for providing effective imagery from multiple cameras.