Airborne Digital Acquisition System

THE NEED

Consumers of aerial imagery not only like to look at nice aerial images, but also need those images to correspond to something on the ground.  The geo-positioning of the imagery is key to maximizing the usefulness and value of aerial imagery.

In order to produce the best maps, models, and geo-locations, camera position and orientation data must be recorded when the imagery is recorded.  Any errors introduced at this stage in the process will generate significant positional errors further downstream in the workflow, and ultimately create additional geo-positioning error in the results.

THE SOLUTION

The ADAS II is aware of the mission being flown, the position, speed and orientation of the aircraft, and the limits of the camera itself, and controls the acquisition of imagery to satisfy the mission requirements.

ADAS II controls the rate and timing of the shutter of the camera, and synchronizes the recording of the metadata from on-board position and attitude sensors like GPS and IMU.

The result is that ADAS II generates perfect metadata for each image recorded, and records images based on the coverage and overlap needs of the mission being flown.  If the user is trying to create mosaics from their imagery, ADAS II adjusts accordingly by estimating the ground position of the image, and altering the shoot rate and timing to cover the ground appropriately.

THE HARDWARE

• The ADAS II consists of embedded processors, mil-spec connectors and proprietary circuit boards housed in a rugged aluminum case with mounting holes ready for attachment to the fuselage or payload mounting area of your aircraft.
• ADAS II can be powered by the aircraft's DC power system, or by its own (optional) battery pack.
• ADAS II can utilize the aircraft's existing GPS and IMU data, or it can be supplied with an optional Attitude, Heading Reference sensor (AHARS).
• ADAS II is programmed through an easy to use USB connection to any laptop PC.  Data is stored aboard the ADAS II on an off-the-shelf solid state CF memory card.

COMPATIBILITY

• The ADAS II is capable of connecting to any digital camera that support a wired remote shutter release.
• The ADAS II is capable of connecting to any GPS/IMU device that can be supplied in a serial stream.
• The ADAS II can be powered by any 6.5v - 20v DC power source, or by battery.