What is it about?
With the advent of event-based (EB) imaging, high kHz-rate spatially-resolved measurements can now be captured through miniature cameras the size of chicken nuggets. However, the asynchronous nature of EB data makes re-development of imaging know-hows and data-processing approaches necessary. This work explores the potential of using EB cameras as embedded imagers in hypersonic flight-test vehicles. In particular, the paper focus on analyzing EB cameras' data efficiency relative to conventional high-speed cameras, as viewed from the perspective of enabling in-flight downlink of measurements.
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Why is it important?
Hypersonic is an increasingly important but persistently challenging regime of flight, with applications in defense and space access. Flight-tests are ultimately needed to test and evaluate new hypersonic concepts. Though the maximization of measured parameters is desired, mass, volume and data bandwidth on test vehicles are at a premium. The nascent event-based (EB) camera combines a compact form factor with high imaging spatial resolution, kHz-rate response and data-sparse encoding in a package that is hitherto impossible through conventional cameras. These attributes make EB measurement techniques ideal for development into hypersonic flight-test diagnostics, whose full potential remains to be explored.
Perspectives
EB cameras pioneered by the machine vision community has recently gained a level of maturity and product availability that makes them highly attractive as a new paradigm of measurement technique to be developed. EB cameras, popularly conceived for GNC purposes on drones and robots, could serve as effectively as a measurement tool for hypersonic test articles - whether for flight-test or wind-tunnel. Their compact form factor potentially allows for embedding within the test article, including for imaging of engine internal flow paths. Meanwhile, their continuous streaming output (as opposed to high-speed camera's burst) lends the device to real-time processing and closed-loop control. As EB imaging is a new paradigm rather than specific technique, their full potential for aerospace applications remains a rich area to explore for the coming years.
Zu Puayen Tan
National Chiao Tung University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Analysis of Event-Based Camera's Potential for In-Flight Measurement on Hypersonic Test Vehicles, January 2024, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
DOI: 10.2514/6.2024-2659.
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