Non-traditional Gently Curving Convergent Drone Flight Paths

By James W. Dow

A method and system is described for prescribing and constructing nontraditional camera placement trajectories (a series of specific waypoints) to more effectively capture digital image networks for the production of geometrically and geographically correct 3D point cloud models using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) techniques – the “work”. The constructed waypoints define gently curving trajectories which a) guide photographers in the placement of cameras and/or b) provide pathways for ground vehicles and/or flight lines for manned/unmanned aircraft carrying an adequate payload of vertical and/or oblique cameras of various types sufficient for the prescribed work. The unique, gently curving, convergent, non-linear, non-parallel, continuously changing shape of the camera trajectories produced using this disclosed method and system are necessary and sufficient to significantly contribute to the resolution of identified systematic errors previously experienced in SfM production of 3D topographic models (point clouds) using digital photographs captured using traditional straight, linear, parallel camera trajectories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James W. Dow
• Release date: May 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463250136

James W. Dow

James W. Dow Chief Executive Officer, Aerotec, LLC Years of Experience: With this firm– 16 years; With other > 25 years Education: Mississippi State University: BS/Aerospace Engineering – 1970 MS/Aerospace Engineering – 1972 Relevant Qualifications: Mr. Dow was an original founder of Aerotec, LLC (airborne remote sensing) in 1996, having retired from the Alabama Power Company. Mr. Dow is generally acknowledged as one of the most influential engineers in the United States regarding CAD/CAM/CAE technology and LIDAR “filtering” software development. Mr. Dow has over twenty-five years of experience in application software development and support for a variety of industries that include military defense, aerospace, forest products, construction, communications, and electric utility. Mr. Dow’s experience spans all aspects of information management methodology/technology from strategic planning for network-infrastructure through design, engineering, construction, implementation, and support of mission critical computer application systems across multi-company/multi-state political and geographic areas. He is an internationally recognized authority in a wide variety of industries. In 1979, Mr. Dow co-authored an internationally acclaimed book entitled “The Guide for the Evaluation and Implementation of CAD/CAM Systems”. He played a key role in bringing several successful European CAD/CAM software products to the U.S. marketplace. From 1990-1995, Mr. Dow was employed by the Alabama Power Company Information Resources Department as -Manager of Application Services - Staff of 57 (1992-1994) and -Manager of Information Resources Plans & Projects – Staff of 30 (1990-1992). From 1974-1990, Mr. Dow was employed by Southern Company Services, Information Resources Organization in the following capacities: -Manager, Nuclear Plant Information Systems Staff of 35 (1987-1990), -Manager, Information Resources Strategic Planning Staff of 4 (1983-1987) and -Manager, Supervisor, Programmer Staff of 20 (1972-1983). From 1972-1974, Mr. Dow was employed by Lockheed Georgia Company, Wing Design, as a Stress Engineer in the Structural Design Department. There he performed structural analysis, fatigue analysis and basic material research related to the engineering and design of aircraft structures to include the C-5, C-141, C130, JetStar, L1011, and Hummingbird (VTOL aircraft.) During 1972, Mr. Dow worked as a Scientist/Instrumentation Engineer for the US Naval Weapons Laboratory in Dahlgren, Virginia. He conducted basic research in gas dynamics to simulate nuclear blast wave environments at the Conical Shock Tube Facility. The research was related to the survivability of anti-ballistic missile systems, primarily the SPRINT missile. Mr. Dow’s military experience encompasses the following: -Commissioned Officer (2nd Lieutenant), US Army/Armor, 1972; continuing through -Georgia Army National Guard: Commander, Company B, 1-108 Armor, Cedartown, Georgia (9 years of service). Mr. Dow’s educational background is as follows: -BS, Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University (1965-1970) Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Engineering undergraduate research assistant; research publications include “Skin Friction Drag on Infinite Yawed Wings” (helicopter blade aerodynamics) Cooperative education program (Lockheed Georgia Company) -MS, Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University (1970-1972), Graduate research assistant (NASA Redstone Arsenal/Huntsville, Alabama) for the MSU Mechanical Engineering Department Master’s Thesis: “Mass, Energy and Vorticity Transport in Turbulent Boundary Layers” -Virginia Polytechnical Institute (1972); Advanced Graduate Studies - Advanced Particle Dynamics Mr. Dow is a U.S. Citizen. Mr. Dow was inducted into the Mississippi State University’s Engineering Hall of Fame in 1998. Mr. Dow was the primary inventor associated with the following patents: •Method and System for Direct Classification from Three Dimensional Digital Imaging (LIDAR). US Patent No. US 7,046,841 B1, May 16, 2006. •Method and Apparatus for Direct Detection, Location, Analysis, Identification, and Reporting of Vegetation Clearance Violations. US Patent Numbers: US 8,374,431 B2, February 12, 2013 US 8,724,900 B2, May 13, 2014 US 9,536,313 B2, January 3, 2017 US 9,947,109 B2, April 17, 2018 •Method and System for Developing Non-traditional (non-linear and non-parallel) Gently Curving Camera Trajectories for Collecting Digital Aerial/Terrestrial Photography for Construction of 3D Topographic Models Using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Techniques, Patent Pending March 2018.

Book preview

Note: This eBook describes the invention disclosed as US Patent: (Patent Pending – March 2018) Method and System for Developing Non-traditional (non-linear and non-parallel) Gently Curving Camera Trajectories for Collecting Digital Aerial/Terrestrial Photography for Construction of 3D Topographic Models Using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Techniques.

Non-traditional Gently Curving Convergent Drone Flight Paths

(A Direct Method for Constructing Non-traditional [non-linear, non-parallel], Gently Curving, Continuously Changing, Convergent Camera Deployment [Flight] Trajectories for SfM [Structure for Motion] Aerial Photography Collection)

By: James W. Dow

Copyright 2018 James W. Dow

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

Credits:

Editor: W. Scott Dow/D2, Principal

Illustrator: James W. Dow/D2, Principal

Photographer: James W. Dow/D2, Principal

Epigraph

You will have courage because you still have hope.

You will be protected and will rest in safety.

You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.

Job 11:18-19, Bible

About the Author

James W. Dow

Chief Executive Officer, Aerotec, LLC

Years of Experience: With this firm – 22 years; with others firms > 25 years

Education: Mississippi State University:

BS/Aerospace Engineering – 1970

MS/Aerospace Engineering – 1972

Relevant Qualifications:

Mr. Dow was an original founder of Aerotec, LLC (airborne remote sensing) in 1996, having retired from the Alabama Power Company. Mr. Dow is generally acknowledged as one of the most influential engineers in the United States regarding CAD/CAM/CAE technology and LIDAR filtering software development. Mr. Dow has over forty years of experience in application software development and support for a variety of industries that include military defense, aerospace, forest products, construction, communications, pipelines, environmental, land development, and electric utility.

Mr. Dow’s experience spans all aspects of information management methodology/technology from strategic planning for network-infrastructure through design, engineering, construction, implementation, and support of mission critical computer application systems across multi-company/multi-state political and geographic areas. He is an internationally recognized authority in a wide variety of industries.

In 1979, Mr. Dow co-authored an internationally acclaimed book entitled The Guide for the Evaluation and Implementation of CAD/CAM Systems. He played a key role in bringing several successful European CAD/CAM software products to the U.S. marketplace.

From 1990-1995, Mr. Dow was employed by the Alabama Power Company Information Resources Department as

Manager of Application Services - Staff of 57 (1992-1994) and

Manager of Information Resources Plans & Projects – Staff of 30 (1990-1992).

From 1974-1990, Mr. Dow was employed by Southern Company Services, Information Resources Organization in the following capacities:

Manager, Nuclear Plant Information Systems Staff of 35 (1987-1990),

Manager, Information Resources Strategic Planning Staff of 4 (1983-1987) and

Manager, Supervisor, Programmer Staff of 20 (1972-1983).

From 1972-1974, Mr. Dow was employed by Lockheed Georgia Company, Wing Design, as a Stress Engineer in the Structural Design Department. There he performed structural analysis, fatigue analysis and basic material research related to the engineering and design of aircraft structures to include the C-5, C-141, C130, JetStar, L1011, and Hummingbird (VTOL aircraft.)

During 1972, Mr. Dow worked as a Scientist/Instrumentation Engineer for the US Naval Weapons Laboratory in Dahlgren, Virginia. He conducted basic research in gas dynamics to simulate nuclear blast wave environments at the Conical Shock Tube Facility. The research was related to the survivability of anti-ballistic missile systems, primarily the SPRINT missile.

Mr. Dow’s military experience encompasses the following:

Commissioned Officer (2nd Lieutenant): US Army/Armor, 1972

Commander: Georgia Army National Guard: Company B, 1-108 Armor, Cedartown, Georgia (9 years of service).

Mr. Dow’s educational background is as follows:

BS, Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University (1965-1970)

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Engineering undergraduate research assistant; research publications include Skin Friction Drag on Infinite Yawed Wings (helicopter blade aerodynamics).

Cooperative education program (Lockheed Georgia Company).

MS, Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University (1970-1972),

Graduate research assistant (NASA Redstone Arsenal/Huntsville, Alabama) for the MSU Mechanical Engineering Department.

Master’s Thesis: Mass, Energy and Vorticity Transport in Turbulent Boundary Layers.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1972); Advanced Graduate Studies - Advanced Particle Dynamics.

Mr. Dow, a U.S. Citizen, was inducted into the Mississippi State University’s Engineering Hall of Fame.

Mr. Dow was