Environmental Control and Installation of a Precision Aerial Camera

Abstract

A precision aerial camera used in radar evaluation was installed in an aircraft. Installation factors which contribute to the camera system errors were studied to minimize the additional errors introduced when the camera is operated at high altitudes in an unprotected area of an aircraft. The selection of the aircraft camera window and an environmental chamber along with its temperature control system are discussed. It is shown that temperature regulation is essential, while variations in pressure produce negligible errors. Camera stabilization and isolation from the aircraft was not necessary in these tests to prevent degradation of the camera resolution. Test data show that preheating the camera chamber prior to flight, along with regulated heat input, is essential to provide a uniform camera temperature for the duration of the flight. It is concluded that the required camera system accuracy of =10 microns on the photo scale can be achieved when the installed camera, including the camera window, is calibrated and operated in a temperature controlled environment. Schematics and blueprints of a typical installation are included.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0624742

Entities

People

  • Charles W. Portney

Organizations

  • Rome Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Aerial Cameras
  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Cameras
  • Construction
  • Control Systems
  • Controlled Environment
  • Films
  • Heat Loss
  • Heat Transfer
  • High Altitude
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Radar
  • Temperature Control
  • Temperature Gradients

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Geodesy