Non-intrusive photogrammetric targets
View Patent ↗A target for use in photogrammetric analysis that does not distort the object to be analyzed has been developed. The target is formed by mixing a diffuse material with a solvent and then applying the mixture to the surface of the object to be analyzed. The object is then coated with a reflective material so that the diffuse material forms a reflective target suitable for use in photogrammetric analysis.
1. A method for applying a target reflector to an object for photogrammetric analysis, comprising:
mixing a diffuse material with a solvent, where the diffuse material has a sufficient index of refraction so that the diffuse material will reflect light from a light source across an array of angles;
applying the diffuse material and the solvent to the surface of the object so that the diffuse material bonds with the surface of the object; and
applying a reflective coating to the surface of the object over the diffuse material and solvent, where the diffuse material forms a target reflector underneath the reflective coating for photogrammetric analysis.
2. The method of claim 1 , where the object comprises a thin film polymer membrane.
3. The method of claim 2 , where the polymer membrane has a thickness between 1.0 and 25.0 microns.
4. The method of claim 2 , where diffuse material comprises fibers of the same polymer as the membrane.
5. The method of claim 1 , where the diffuse material comprises micro-beads.
6. The method of claim 5 , where the micro-beads are made of glass.
7. The method of claim 1 , where the diffuse material bonds with the surface of the object by melting.
8. The method of claim 1 , where the diffuse material comprises a luminous material.
9. The method of claim 1 , where the reflective coating is a reflective metallized coating.
10. The method of claim 9 , where the reflective metallized coating is an evaporative material.
11. The method of claim 9 , where the reflective metallized coating comprises aluminum.
12. The method of claim 9 , where the reflective metallized coating comprises gold.
13. The method of claim 9 , where the reflective metallized coating comprises silver.
14. The method of claim 9 , where the reflective metallized coating comprises germanium.
15. The method of claim 9 , where the reflective metallized coating comprises chromium.
16. The method of claim 9 , where the reflective metallized coating has a thickness of between 200-1200 Angstroms.
17. The method of claim 1 , where the diffuse material and the solvent are applied with a jet sprayer.
18. The method of claim 1 , where the diffuse material and the solvent are applied through a template that is overlayed on the surface of the object.
19. A method for applying a target reflector to an object for photogrammetric analysis, comprising:
step for applying a diffuse material with solvent to the surface of the object, where the diffuse material has a sufficient index of refraction so that the diffuse material will reflect light from a light source across an array of angles; and
step for applying a reflective material over the surface of the object for photogrammetric analysis.
20. A method for applying a target reflector to an object for photogrammetric analysis, comprising:
casting a diffuse material from a mixture of diffuse material with a solvent in a film, where the diffuse material has a sufficient index of refraction so that the diffuse material will reflect light from a light source across an array of angels;
punching segments of the diffuse material from the film and onto to the surface of the object, where the segments of diffuse material are held in place with adhesive; and
applying a layer of reflective metallized coating to the surface of the object, where the segments of diffuse material form target reflectors on the surface of the object for photogrammetric analysis.
21. A method for applying a target reflector to an object for photogrammetric analysis, comprising:
applying, a liquid solution from a mixture of diffuse material with a solvent of membrane material to a substrate, where the substrate has at least one diffuse areas on its surface;
curing the liquid solution of membrane material to form a membrane, where the diffuse area of the substrate form a diffuse area in the membrane, where the diffuse area in the membrane has a sufficient index of refraction so that the diffuse material will reflect light from a light source across an array of angles;
removing the membrane from the substrate; and
applying a reflective coating to the surface of the object, where the diffuse area of the membrane forms a target reflector for photogrammetric analysis.
22. A method for applying a target reflector to an object for photogrammetric analysis, comprising:
step for forming a diffuse area on a membrane from a mixture of diffuse material with a solvent that casts the object, where the diffuse area in the membrane has a sufficient index of refraction so that the diffuse material will reflect light from a light source across an array of angles; and
step for applying a reflective material over the membrane so that a target reflector is formed on the object for photogrammetric analysis.