TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Photogrammetric Method for Calculating Relative Orientation (LAR-TOPS-38)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.THE TECHNOLOGY:NASA's Langley Research Center has developed a novel method to calculate the relative position and orientation between two rigid objects using a simplified photogrammetric technique. The system quantitatively captures the relative orientation of objects in six degrees of freedom (6-DOF), using one or more cameras with non-overlapping fields of view (FOV) that record strategically placed photogrammetric targets. This high-speed camera system provides an algorithmic foundation for various photogrammetry applications where detecting relative positioning is important. Originally developed to evaluate the separation stage of

NASA's Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) spacecraft crew module, this technology has also been used to evaluate the effect of water impact on the MLAS crew module and for trajectory analysis of military aircraft.The NASA technology uses a photogrammetry algorithm to calculate the relative orientation between two rigid bodies. The software, written in LabVIEW and MATLAB, quantitatively analyzes the photogrammetric data collected from the camera system to determine the 6-DOF position and rotation of the observed object. The system comprises an arrangement of arbitrarily placed cameras, rigidly fixed on one body, and a collection of photogrammetric targets, rigidly fixed on the second body. The cameras can be either placed on rigidly fixed objects surrounding the second body (facing inwards), or can be placed on an object directed towards the surrounding environment (facing outwards). At any given point in time, the cameras must capture at least five non-collinear targets. The 6-DOF accuracy increases as additional cameras and targets are used. The equipment requirements include a set of heterogeneous cameras, a collection of photogrammetric targets, a data storage device, and a processing PC. Camera calibration and initial target measurements are required prior to image capture. A nonprovisional patent application on this technology has been filed.To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LAR-TOPS-38If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.