Graz, Austria • September 21, 2021: Vexcel Imaging is announcing the next camera release based on Vexcel Imaging’s 4th generation camera architecture, the UltraCam Condor 4.1. More than just a ‘facelift’ to the Condor M1, the UltraCam Condor 4.1 boasts multiple significant advancements to make it the gold standard for wide-area aerial mapping.
The unique camera design consists of a very wide, high-resolution RGB array that delivers the utmost resolution and flying efficiency due to its impressive across track footprint of 48,462 pixels. The system also features a lower resolution rectangular NIR for classification projects and a lower resolution rectangular PAN for producing highly accurate DSMs and DTMs through dense matching. Due to the rectangular image footprint, frontlap of 85% is obtained for maximum dense matching quality. This breadth of functionality eliminates the need for additional flights by other sensors, given that all necessary data sets can be derived from a single UltraCam Condor 4.1 flight.
Benefitting from UltraCam 4th generation technology, the UltraCam Condor 4.1 features numerous enhancements that begin with a fully CMOS-based architecture that enables a fast frame rate of 1 frame per 0.7 seconds, allowing customers to operate the system reliably even with jets and turboprobs at rapid speeds. To manage the vast amount of data collected by the CMOS sensors and still maintain the impressive image dynamic enabled by the latest CMOS technology, completely new electronics were implemented for UltraCam 4th generation systems. New temperature-controlled lenses, designed solely for Vexcel Imaging, ensure imagery of exceptional sharpness, resolution, and contrast.
A revolutionary feature, exclusive to all UltraCam 4th camera generations, is the Adaptive Motion Compensation (AMC). AMC is an innovative motion compensation approach that, in addition to correcting image blur in the direction of flight as provided by traditional Forward Motion Compensation (FMC) technology, also addresses blur caused by multi-directional camera movements during flight.
“If the goal is to map larger regions—such as countries or continents—in record time and to generate ortho images of the highest quality, using just a single sensor, the UltraCam Condor 4.1 is the system your job deserves.” says Alexander Wiechert, CEO of Vexcel Imaging.
Summed up, the UltraCam Condor 4.1 addresses a very specific application: high-altitude ortho image generation with superior image quality and flying efficiency.
Commercial availability of the UltraCam Condor 4.1 is scheduled for early first quarter 2022.
Key specifications
- 48,462 x 6,150 pixels Color image size (RGB Bayer pattern)
- 20,488 x 14,040 pixels PAN image size (RGB coverage)
- 9,456 x 6,240 pixels NIR image size (RGB coverage)
- CMOS imaging sensors
- Adaptive Motion Compensation (AMC)
- 1 frame per 0.7 seconds
About Vexcel Imaging
Vexcel Imaging, a leader in the geospatial industry, develops cutting-edge large-format aerial cameras and photogrammetric software with innovative approaches, and places an emphasis on continuing product upgrades and world-class support. The broad UltraCam aerial camera portfolio covers all applications in airborne photogrammetry — from nadir to oblique to wide-area data collection. UltraCam data is processed with the UltraMap photogrammetry software, providing an end-to-end processing workflow for highly automated, quality data products that include point clouds, digital surface and terrain models, orthophotos and 3DTINs. Learn more about Vexcel Imaging under www.vexcel-imaging.com.
