The demand for high-quality, immersive imagery has surged in recent years, driving innovation in capture technology. Teledyne FLIR's Ladybug series stands at the forefront of this movement, offering cutting-edge spherical imaging systems designed for diverse applications, from mobile mapping to asset inspection. This essay will explore the capabilities of the Ladybug5+ and Ladybug6, highlighting their unique features and the underlying technology that empowers them.
Both the Ladybug5+ and Ladybug6 are engineered to capture comprehensive 360-degree spherical images. The Ladybug5+ boasts impressive specifications, acquiring content at 8k30 or 4k60 resolutions. Its patented calibration and superior global shutter sensors contribute to an exceptional accuracy of 2 mm at 10 m. Furthermore, its IP65 rating makes it suitable for outdoor deployments, including challenging environments like street mapping. The accompanying Ladybug SDK provides a comprehensive suite of tools for recording, processing, and exporting spherical content, streamlining the workflow for users.
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Building upon the success of its predecessor, the Ladybug6 represents a significant leap forward in spherical imaging technology. Designed for all-weather conditions and moving platforms, the Ladybug6 captures images at an astounding 72 Megapixels with an accuracy of +/- 2 mm at 10 meters. This remarkable precision is achieved through industrial-grade design, factory calibration, and robust IP67-rated connectors. Onboard processing and a feature-rich SDK further enhance its capabilities. The Ladybug6 (specifically model LD6-U3-122S7C-R) offers a 15 FPS capture rate at 72 MP resolution and nearly 30 FPS at 36 MP via a USB 3.1 interface. It offers various acquisition modes, including standard, bulb, skip frames, overlapped, and multi-shot trigger modes, allowing for flexible capture scenarios. It also has two memory channels for custom camera settings and a gain range from 0dB to 18dB. Its robust design is evident in its dimensions (198 mm high x 269 mm diameter) and weight (5.2 kg). The Ladybug6's advanced features, including support for additional Global Navigation Satellite Systems and advanced APIs, make it ideal for demanding applications like panoramic street image production, road surveying, asset inspection, and HD map generation.
A crucial component of the Ladybug system is the Software Development Kit (SDK). This comprehensive toolkit provides users with the necessary resources to manage camera settings, acquire 360-degree images, and produce panoramic images and videos. The SDK includes the LadybugCapPro Windows application, source code examples in C/C++/C#, detailed technical documentation, and an API with reference documentation. This API allows for seamless integration of Ladybug functionality into custom applications, supported by a wealth of online resources.
The power of the Ladybug system lies in its innovative approach to image acquisition. By utilizing six synchronized high-quality cameras, the system captures images from multiple vantage points, covering approximately 90% of a full sphere. Five cameras are positioned horizontally, while one points vertically. This configuration, combined with pre-calibration, eliminates the need for in-field calibration and facilitates further system innovations. The Ladybug API enables real-time rectification, stitching, and blending of images, allowing independent management of each sensor.
A key differentiator of the Ladybug system is its sophisticated calibration method. Unlike traditional mechanical calibration, the Ladybug systems employ software to calibrate each camera individually and in relation to the other five. This allows the system to determine the vector associated with every pixel in each camera with incredible accuracy (one-hundredth of a degree). This high level of precision allows for precise positional data, enabling applications to understand the camera’s location relative to the world. Teledyne FLIR has effectively addressed the complex challenge of calibrating not only the lenses but also the rotations and translations between all six lenses, even with the limited overlap between their fields of view.
Thus Teledyne FLIR's Ladybug spherical imaging systems represent a significant advancement in capturing immersive visual data. From the versatile Ladybug5+ to the high-resolution Ladybug6, these systems offer unparalleled image quality, accuracy, and robust design. Combined with the comprehensive Ladybug SDK and innovative calibration techniques, these systems empower users to capture the world in 360 degrees, opening up new possibilities in a wide range of applications.
