Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of
Planimat projection system.
Fig. 2 Uses of the
straight mechanical
guide rod in photo-
grammetric plotters
a—c double-arm
d—g single-arm
h,i design using one
or two space
points
©) 00 oO) | D, DA)
e oC) e a) O O
aM wn »
2e 2f
2a 2b 2c 2d 29 2h 2i
or 2i were chosen for the Planimat. This selection was determined by several considerations which will
here only be indicated by the terms: counter-balancing, deflection, limitation of focal-length range and
integral tracing table.
As regards deflection, the single-arm guide rod is superior to the double-arm rod, since the load of
the image-plane carriages is not applied on the projecting portion as in the double-arm rod, but be-
tween two "fixed" supports (G and P). Consequently, use of the single-arm rod is simpler for long
focal lengths on the one hand and for wider field angles on the other.
Supporting the end of the rod at G makes it possible to provide a drawing plane directly in the
instrument, without any opening for the guide rod.
The use of two space points permits very small bx-values to be introduced, including the value
bx — 0. Moreover, it facilitates the empirical process of relative orientation, since bz and by may be
introduced in the second operation. Most important of all, this solution does not require the rotation
of the great mass of the two cameras about a common axis (common 9), which frequently presents a
problem in view of the required accuracy.
Fig. 3 illustrates the disposition of the plotting cameras, showing only one side as an example. As
is evident, the camera with the photo-carriage W, the image-plane reference point D and the per-
spective center P is pivoted at the Cardan point K. The rotation is caused by the y and « setscrews.
Fig. 3 also shows that the viewing optical system is stationary — leaving aside the effects of p and w —
and that the guide rods L shift the photos Dy.
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