Panoramic aerial camera image motion measurement using a hybrid system

Image motion compensation is significantly important for aerial camera photograph. To execute the compensation, we must determine the image motion exactly. This paper proposes a method of real-time image motion measurement for panoramic aerial cameras based on image processing using a hybrid system. Two cameras are simultaneously used in the hybrid system. One main linear CCD for imaging, while the other auxiliary low resolution high frame rate area CCD for determining the image motion based on 2D spatial correlation. The demanding computational requirements for the real-time 2D spatial correlation are covered by a joint transform optical correlator. Simulation test results show that the accuracy is improved and the measurement error is within 0.2 pixels for input images with SNR=1 dB.