Importance

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Abstract

A remote data collection system, which may be used in a vehicle such as an aircraft or a ground vehicle, includes a directional sensor, such as one or more cameras, for sensing a characteristic of interest and providing sensor data. The system further includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for providing GPS data representative of the position of the sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for providing IMU data representative of the attitude of the sensor, a processing unit and a storage unit. The processing unit determines geographic data referenced to the sensor data in response to the GPS data and the IMU data. The processing unit may utilize an error model to determine IMU errors which may be used in determining the geographic data with high accuracy. The sensor data and the geographic data are stored in the data storage unit for subsequent use. The system may include a stabilized platform on which the sensor and the IMU are mounted. The stabilized platform is rotated about at least one axis of rotation to control the sensing direction of the sensor as the vehicle moves.

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First Claim