Nova Sensors produces miniature electronics for a variety of real-time digital video camera systems, including foveal sensors based on Nova's Variable Acuity Superpixel Imager (VASI™) technology. An advanced imageprocessing package has been designed at Nova Sensors to re-configure the FPGA-based co-processor board for numerous applications including motion detection, optical, background velocimetry and target tracking. Currently, the processing package consists of 14 processing operations that cover a broad range of point-and area-applied algorithms. Flexible FPGA designs of these operations and re-programmability of the processing board allows for easy updates of the VASI™ sensors, and for low-cost customization of VASI™ sensors taking into account specific customer requirements. This paper describes the image processing algorithms implemented and verified in Xilinx FPGAs and provides the major technical performances with figures illustrating practical applications of the processing package.

No abstract

A single chip which visually measures the Yaw, Pitch and Roll (YPR) and images the direction of travel of a Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) is described. The YPR measurement modules, constructed using an elaborated Reichardt model of the fly's motion detection system, are used to measure the drift rate of features in the field of view. A variable acuity superpixellation imager (VASI), constructed using an active pixel sensor (APS) with networked integration capacitors, allows multiple high resolution foveae to be interspersed in a low resolution image of the environment. The 49 sq. mm chip, containing twelve 90-pixel linear arrays for the YPR modules and a 128 x 128 VASI array, is fabricated in a 0 . 5 p 2P3M CMOS process. Measured results indicate that YPR rates of over 300 pixeldsecond and VASI images ranging from I x 1 to 128 x 128, with multiple, dynamically variable foveae, can be obtained with this chip. It is intended to be used to control and navigate a MUAV, but it can also be used for visual tracking and many other "multimode" imaging operations.

Third generation Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) are being designed to incorporate numerous sophisticated "smart" functions, useful in the preprocessing and filtering ofreal-time image data. Designers at Nova Research, Inc. have developed ROIC designs which have increased the capabilities of these devices in the area of signal and image processing. These new FPAs are more versatile than their predecessors through the implementation of a variety of programmable modes of operation. This paper will discuss a variety of such processing functions and modes.Design configurations for such FPAs will be discussed with regard to the incorporation ofgeneral and specific signal processing functions. Such functions will include but not be limited to: edge enhancement and edge extraction, accommodating high and low signal flux environments, high speed windowing and foveated pixel arrangements.

No abstract