Exploiting Global Positioning System, Inertial Measurement Unit controlled image sensors

Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and Inertial Measurements Units (IMU) are being integrated with Image Sensors. Results of this integration provide measurements on the position and attitude of the sensors. These measurements could replace the least squares method (Analytic Aerotriangulation) traditionally used to solve for the position and attitude. Direct measurement of position and attitude provide easier exploitation of imagery. Image mosaics are easier to build, digital terrain elevation data can be generated and image registration is improved. This paper will provide results of using a GPS, IMU Image Sensor. Imagery was acquired from a Kodak 460 color infrared professional digital camera and from three individually filtered progressive-scan video cameras. GPS and IMU measurement were collected at the time of image acquisition. The image sensors, GPS and IMU equipment were flown on board a Cessna 172 aircraft. The imagery was automatically exploited to produce mosaics and to manually derive digital terrain elevation data. An optical flow technique was investigated to automate derivation of digital terrain elevation data.