Since the beginning of history, mankind has dreamed of soaring above his planet and recording his impressions. Others dreamed of a journey to the Moon, to the other planets, and indeed to the stars. NASA cameras have changed the dreams to stark reality. Space photography is not only striking in beauty, but also permits us to unlock many of the secrets of our universe.

Static bench type impact tests of 4.0 and 1.5 pound artificial birds striking the leading edge of composite propeller blades are conducted to determine the damage response of the blades to bird strike. The artificial birds (cylindrical in shape) are launched at velo-cities up to 900 ft/sec (275 m/sec) to demonstrate that composite construction propeller blades will pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bird strike requirements. A high speed framing camera is used to determine the impact velocity of the birds, maximum tip deflections, bird/blade contact time, and the elapsed time required to achieve maximum deflection.

Over the years, the HYCAM rotating prism camera has been accepted as the industry standard for high speed photography. The new K2A optical head represents the first major optical design change since the introduction of the K2 optics in the late 1960's. The new optical system is designed to be compatible, but not interchangeable, with the current HYCAM system.

Aerial targets for site-defense weapons, such as rapid fire guns, must be designed so that impact loads are as benign as possible. Otherwise, the target site (a ship, for example) is placed in jeopardy if the weapon fails to perform properly.

High-speed photography is a useful diagnostic tool for studying the propagation of adiabatic combustion waves in highly exothermic solid state chemical systems. Temperatures on the order of 1500 to 40000C can be achieved within the combustion wave front as it traverses the solid chemical reactants. Wave front propagation rates in such systems are typically 0.5 to 10 cm/sec. High-speed photography (framing speeds of 400-2000 frames/sec) is being used in our laboratory to study the structure of the combustion wave, obtain quantitative combustion wave propagation rates, and to study the details of ignition of the combustion wave using 150 watt HF/DF laser radiation. This paper will present examples of photographic experiments as well as examples of the chemical and physical information obtainable from these experiments.

We present preliminary data demonstrating the feasibility of coupling an optical parametric frequency upconverter to a streak camera, thereby realizing a hybrid recording system that can sensitively record very fast (≈10 ps) single-shot infrared events. The data presented in this paper represent experimental work in the upconversion of 845-nm light. This wavelength was chosen for experimental convenience to expedite our "proof of principle" demonstration. Our results give an estimated upconversion quantum efficiency of about 25(7. We also discuss details of our future experiments in upconversion/streak camera recording at 1300 nm.

To measure the building vibration and deformation during earthquake or tvphone by high speed camera or video camera with the telephoto lens is the simple, low cost method, and it can give us the two dimensional information as well. With the grid pattern painted on the building and pass this image through another grid plate to the camera will generate a moire pattern on the film. The change of the shape of moire pattern will give us the vibration and 3 D deformation information to a very high degree of precision order. The factors of film deformation, air fluctuation are also discussed.

High speed videography has been successfully used to acquire failure mode images of high speed rotating machinery components. This imaging is necessary to understand failure modes in order to improve critical components and ensure overall system integrity. Work on this project started in March 1984 and is currently in progress using laser strobe lighting for surface imaging. The system used to obtain the visual data features an SP2000TM Motion Analysis System in combination with a 10 watt copper vapor laser. Two SP2000 systems with a switching unit provide a dual continuous recording capability. Three tests have been performed, each resulting in the visual recording of a failure mode at high speeds. The first recording pinpointed a part fabrication design problem, and the second and third recordings verified the effectiveness of the corrective action. Subsequent testing will incorporate a real-time x-ray system to allow simultaneous imaging of surface and internal structural elements.

The target painted with Zone plate pattern to be tracked by a high speed camera through another transparent Zone plate give us a very high precision method for the measurement of target displacement. The film unflatness, air fluctuation and the vibration of the high speed camera are also effected on the shape change of the moire. The small amount change of the position and the direction of the target can be easily measured by this method.

This paper describes the latest techniques used in the development and construction of two unique types of low-light level sensors. Both sensors operate in the visible and near I.R. (infrared) spectrum but address divergent design goals, architectures, and construction. The first sensor is based on custom single micro-channel plate intensification of the C.I.D. (charge injection device)6solid-state self scanning array. Design and performance goals emphasize sensitivity (10^-6 F.C.), MTF, miniturization (0.0258 cu.ft.), ruggedness, integration and gating. The second sensor is based on custom dual micro-channel plate intensification of a modi-fied silicon array tube. Design and performance goals emphasize sensitivity (10^-8 F.C.), intrascene dynamic range (1x10⁸) and blooming. Both sensors are described in terms of architectures, physical structure, performance and design trade offs.

In 1979 L-W invented the programmable pull-down claw for motion picture projectors, in which the light application rate never varies, regardless of film speeds. While a seemingly simple invention, this development provided new dimentions for the utilization of film product.

A series of gateable tubes is described. These are intended for use with gate times down to less than one nanosecond. The tubes require gate pulses under 100 volts. Their principal feature is a gate electrode of fine mesh, fine enough as not to be resolved in the image. Their advantage over conventional gated image tubes with coarse mesh or ring gate electrode is lower gating voltage making pulse generation easier. Their advantage over the "proximity"-focussed microchannel plate (MCP) tubes is that they have less problems with internal resistivity capacitance effects which limit speed.

This paper describes a means of inserting alphanumeric characters and graphics into a high speed video signal and locking that signal to an IRIG B time code. A model V-91 IRIG processor, developed by Instrumentation Technology Systems under contract to Instrumentation Marketing Corporation has been designed to operate in conjunction with the NAC model FHS-200 High Speed Video Camera which operates at 200 fields per second. The system provides for synchronizing the vertical and horizontal drive signals such that the vertical sync precisely coincides with five millisecond transitions in the IRIG time code. Additionally, the unit allows for the insertion of an IRIG time message as well as other data and symbols.

In biomechanics research and in many sports medicine applications, it is desirable to make precise measurements of the kinematic parameters of body motions. An analysis of these parameters can be used to refine athletic performance, to design sports equipment, to develop orthotics, and to improve the practice of sports medicine. In this paper a videometric analysis system is described that can meet the requirements of a broad range of clinical and research applications. This system consists of state-of-the-art video components, including a shuttered video camera and a high resolution electronic cursor system, as well as a microcomputer and appropriate software for interactively making measurements, displaying results and producing reports. The use of this system for making gait measurements of athletes running on a treadmill is described. Time series of rearfoot angle measurements, made during the support phase of a gait are produced by the system. Individual gaits can be analyzed, or a number of gaits from one or more athletes can be grouped for statistical evaluation. An archival storage and retrieval facility permits the development and use of an extensive data base.

The resolution of a high speed video camera is not so high as photographic film, therefore the measurement of a small shift, such as the vibration of object is sometimes impossible. Here we suggest to use a grids cover on the object and pass this image through another transparent grids to the camera. It will generate a moire fringe which produce the equivalent resolution thousand times than before. We also put a corrdina te mask on the screen of the video TV, it is not only let us get a possibility to measure the small displacement of object which we can not see by video camera before, but also gives us a real time 3 Dimensional data. The mask errors generated hr the curved screen are also discussed.

The Directed Energy Group at BDM Albuquerque, under contract to the Directed Energy Directorate of the U.S. Army, MICOM, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, has developed a concept to achieve an effective ten million frames-per-second infrared videograph for intensity distribution diagnostics of high power CO₂ laser pulses. The concept uses separate pyroelectric surfaces, either vidicons or self-scanning arrays, for each desired frame of data. The pyroelectric surface acts as analog storage of the image until such time as it can be digitized and read into data storage between laser pulses. Each pyro-electric surface is shuttered in sequence by Pockel's cells, with adjustable shutter "on" times and frame-to-frame timing as short as 100 nanoseconds. This paper constitutes a continuation of the design detail of the shutter and optical system for the IR video camera. A delay in the procurement provided time to rework the shutter design previously reported.¹ The revised design reduces the impractically high pulse currents by matching the high voltage pulse generator and line impedance to the Pockel's cell's impedance at the desired pulse rise time rather than the reverse, as in the original design. The optical design has been revised to incorporate a kinematic lens mount to facilitate the field replacement of the objective lenses necessitated by the two design applications. Both of these improvements should find application in similar high speed camera design problems.

An experimental proof of principle system for making time-resolved spectrographic measurements of laserinduced fluorescence in organics undergoing shock wave loading has been developed. The source of excitation is a flashlamp-pump dye laser and the detector is a 0.2m spectrograph coupled to an Imacon 500 streak camera. The sample, in liquid solution, is excited in an evanescent-wave geometry, which results in only a very thin (≈ 1000 Å) layer of sample being excited. Excitation of such a thin layer is required to obtain high time resolution in samples undergoing shock wave loading, which is the intended application for this technique. Optical time resolution of 100 psec has been achieved, and shorter time scales appear within easy reach.

Physical and temporal restrictions imposed by modern aerohallistics have pushed imaging technology to the point where special photoconductive surfaces and high-speed support electronics are dictated. Specifications for these devices can be formulated by a methodical analysis of critical parameters and how they interact. In terms of system theory, system transfer functions and state equations can be used in optimal coupling of devices to maximize system performance. Application of these methods to electronic imaging at the Eglin Aerohallistics Research Facility is described in this report.

The priority associated with U.S. efforts to increase productivity has led to, among other things, the development of Machine Vision systems for use in manufacturing automation requirements. Many such systems combine solid state television cameras and data processing equipment to facilitate high speed, on-line inspection and real time dimensional measurement of parts and assemblies. These parts are often randomly oriented and spaced on a conveyor belt under continuous motion. Television imagery of high speed events has historically been achieved by use of pulsed (strobe) illumination or high speed shutter techniques synchronized with a camera's vertical blanking to separate write and read cycle operation. Lack of synchronization between part position and camera scanning in most on-line applications precludes use of this vertical interval illumination technique. Alternatively, many Machine Vision cameras incorporate special techniques for asynchronous, stop-motion imaging. Such cameras are capable of imaging parts asynchronously at rates approaching 60 hertz while remaining compatible with standard video recording units. Techniques for asynchronous, stop-motion imaging have not been incorporated in cameras used for High Speed Videography. Imaging of these events has alternatively been obtained through the utilization of special, high frame rate cameras to minimize motion during the frame interval. High frame rate cameras must undoubtedly be utilized for recording of high speed events occurring at high repetition rates. However, such cameras require very specialized, and often expensive, video recording equipment. It seems, therefore, that Machine Vision cameras with capability for asynchronous, stop-motion imaging represent a viable approach for cost effective video recording of high speed events occurring at repetition rates up to 60 hertz.

A light-emitting diode (LED) based illuminator system for use with a split Hopkinson bar (tensional Hopkinson bar) has been developed. Back-lit photographic images of samples undergoing rapid elongation at high strain rates can be recorded at framing rates up to 50 kHz. The photography is "shutterless," that is, the camera employed had no motion compensating optics or shutter. The framing of the camera was achieved by the short pulse duration of the light source. A simple rotating drum camera spinning up to 300 rps was used to record a sequence of several hundred images on a strip of 35 mm film 87 cm long.