Micro-prism type single-lens 3D aircraft telescope system

Abstract

Based on the image payload on an Unmanned Aircraft System, this study utilizes a micro-prism array and single-lens remote camera to assess the feasibility of having two virtual cameras shoot terrain image pairs with inclined +/- 10 degrees. The software, LightTools, is applied for simulating and verifying the feasibility of the optical system. In comparison with traditional frame-type remote cameras, this study not only could acquire highly overlapped stereoscopic image pairs from different viewing angles, but could also increase the stereoscopic image pairs by two times. The system we propose obtains more stereoscopic digital terrain information than do traditional systems. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.