Analysis and Compensation of Installation Perpendicularity Error in Unmanned Surface Vehicle Electro-Optical Devices by Using Sea–Sky Line Images

Abstract

As an important sensor of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV), an electro-optical device is usually used to detect ships and obstacles in USV autonomous navigation and collision avoidance. However, the installation perpendicularity error of the electro-optical device greatly impacts the line-of-sight (LOS) stability control. This error is difficult to eliminate through mechanical calibration because the platform inertial navigation axis cannot be led out. This study aims to establish the model for the perpendicularity error of electro-optical devices during circumferential scanning and analyze its impact on the stability of LOS. In addition, we present a measurement technique for perpendicularity errors utilizing sea–sky line images. Through this method, we find an error function of LOS elevation angle, which is a convex function that can quickly search out high-precision perpendicularity errors step by step. Finally, we measured and compensated the perpendicularity error according to experimental data collected by the electro-optical device. The findings of this research demonstrate that the suggested approach can efficiently mitigate low-frequency disruptions and minor amplitude high-frequency vibrations of LOS in the elevation direction. As a result, it considerably enhances the precision of stability and image observation effect of electro-optical devices.