Dragonfly

Wide-area motion imaging for extended surveillance has been a challenging task because of the weight, size, and power requirements of traditional surveillance systems. Existing systems also lack the capability to cover large ground areas persistently without compromising image quality. Furthermore, motion imagery in extensive areas with varying heights has always been reliant on bulky equipment and substantial power supply, both of which limit the mobility and versatility of such systems. The main problem associated with current approaches lies in the lack of image stabilization, often leading to distorted images, especially when the system is employed at great heights. Existing surveillance systems typically do not take into account the rolling shutter effect that can result from the movement or vibration of the imaging device. This effect can severely impact the quality and accuracy of surveillance imagery, hence restricting its usefulness for purposes such as evidence gathering, intelligence, or overall situational awareness.

Technology Description

The proposed technology is a wide-area motion imaging system that delivers 360° persistent surveillance. The apparatus is composed of a small, lightweight camera array mounted on a tethered drone capable of reaching heights of up to 400 feet. The array includes miniature imagers each equipped with lenses of differing fixed focal lengths. The tether facilitates power, communication, and a data link from the camera array to a dedicated ground processing server. This server is responsible for receiving, processing, and storing the imagery. Alongside, it gathers both absolute and relative position data from a GPS receiver and an IMU that the drone carries. What sets this technology apart is its comprehensive mechanism that addresses the challenge of image stabilization in air surveillance. The server leverages position data to correct any rolling shutter effect, thereby stabilizing and georectifying the resultant images. These images can be sewn together and presented to the user either live or in playback mode through a separate user interface, providing unparalleled surveillance data for analysis.