Systems and methods for obstacle detection and state information determination are provided. In some embodiments, a movable object may carry one or more imaging devices. The imaging devices may be arranged on the movable object so as to have a field of view oriented vertically relative to the movable object. The arrangement of the imaging device may complement or supplant existing arrangement schemes and provide efficient, multi-functional and cost-effective means of arranging imaging devices on movable objects.

A stereo camera apparatus includes a first imaging unit including a first imaging optical system provided with a plurality of lens groups, and a first actuator configured to change a focal length by driving at least one of the plurality of lens groups of the first imaging optical system; a second imaging unit including a second imaging optical system provided with a plurality of lens groups, and a second actuator configured to change a focal length by driving at least one of the plurality of lens groups of the second imaging optical system; a focal length controller configured to output synchronized driving signals to the first and second actuators; and an image processing unit configured to calculate a distance to a subject by using images captured by the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit.

A stereo camera apparatus includes a first imaging unit including a first imaging optical system provided with a plurality of lens groups, and a first actuator configured to change a focal length by driving at least one of the plurality of lens groups of the first imaging optical system; a second imaging unit including a second imaging optical system provided with a plurality of lens groups, and a second actuator configured to change a focal length by driving at least one of the plurality of lens groups of the second imaging optical system; a focal length controller configured to output synchronized driving signals to the first and second actuators; and an image processing unit configured to calculate a distance to a subject by using images captured by the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit.

A machine control device includes an imaging control unit that controls an imaging device to capture two images at two different imaging positions; an imaging position information acquiring unit that acquires positional information of two imaging positions; a measurement distance restoring unit that restores a measurement distance of an object based on two images, distance information between two imaging positions, and a parameter of the imaging device, by using a stereo camera method; a measurement precision calculating unit that calculates a measurement precision of the measurement distance of the object based on two images, the distance information between two imaging positions, and the parameter of the imaging device; an area specifying unit that specifies a partial area of the object as a specified area; and a measurement precision determining unit that determines whether the measurement precision of the object satisfies a predetermined precision in the specified area.

A system and method are disclosed for design of a suite of multispectral (MS) sensors and processing of enhanced data streams produced by the sensors for autonomous aircraft flight. The onboard suite of MS sensors is specifically configured to sense and use a MS variety of sensor-tuned objects, either strategically placed objects and/or surveyed and sensor significant existing objects to determine a position and verify position accuracy. The received MS sensor data enables an autonomous aircraft object identification and positioning system to correlate MS sensor data output with a-priori information stored onboard to determine and verify position and trajectory of the autonomous aircraft. Once position and trajectory are known, the object identification and positioning system commands the autonomous aircraft flight management system and autopilot control of the autonomous aircraft.

A system and method are disclosed for design of a suite of multispectral (MS) sensors and processing of enhanced data streams produced by the sensors for autonomous aircraft flight. The onboard suite of MS sensors is specifically configured to sense and use a MS variety of sensor-tuned objects, either strategically placed objects and/or surveyed and sensor significant existing objects to determine a position and verify position accuracy. The received MS sensor data enables an autonomous aircraft object identification and positioning system to correlate MS sensor data output with a-priori information stored onboard to determine and verify position and trajectory of the autonomous aircraft. Once position and trajectory are known, the object identification and positioning system commands the autonomous aircraft flight management system and autopilot control of the autonomous aircraft.

A handheld device for the image-based measurement of a remote object, comprising a housing having a front side and a rear side, a first and second camera, which are arranged having a stereo base on the rear side, for recording images of the object, an analysis unit having an algorithm for the stereophotogrammetric analysis of the images of the cameras and a display unit, which is arranged on the front side, for displaying images of the object and results of the stereophotogrammetric analysis, wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis, the stereo base is aligned diagonally relative to the longitudinal axis, and the analysis unit is designed for the purpose of taking into consideration the relative alignment of the stereo base during the stereophotogrammetric analysis.

A handheld device for the image-based measurement of a remote object, comprising a housing having a front side and a rear side, a first and second camera, which are arranged having a stereo base on the rear side, for recording images of the object, an analysis unit having an algorithm for the stereophotogrammetric analysis of the images of the cameras and a display unit, which is arranged on the front side, for displaying images of the object and results of the stereophotogrammetric analysis, wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis, the stereo base is aligned diagonally relative to the longitudinal axis, and the analysis unit is designed for the purpose of taking into consideration the relative alignment of the stereo base during the stereophotogrammetric analysis.

An imaging device includes an imaging element, and an image capturing optical system configured to generate an image of an object on the imaging element. The image capturing optical system has a gradient decreasing region in which a change of a gradient of an image magnification rate with respect to an angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element decreases as a concerned position deviates farther away from an optical axis of the image capturing optical system, and a gradient increasing region in which the change of the gradient of the image magnification rate with respect to the angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element increases as the concerned position deviates farther away from the optical axis of the image capturing optical system.

An imaging device includes an imaging element, and an image capturing optical system configured to generate an image of an object on the imaging element. The image capturing optical system has a gradient decreasing region in which a change of a gradient of an image magnification rate with respect to an angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element decreases as a concerned position deviates farther away from an optical axis of the image capturing optical system, and a gradient increasing region in which the change of the gradient of the image magnification rate with respect to the angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element increases as the concerned position deviates farther away from the optical axis of the image capturing optical system.