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THE APS 
The AP-5 System, nicknamed "BRAVO", was conceived and designed within the 
frame of the general considerations made above. 
The most important novelty of the AP-5 System, when comparing it to the 
previous O.M.I. Analytical Stereoplotters, lies in the totally new design 
of the stereocamparator unit. 
A light-alloy boxed frame houses the mechanics and the optics of the two- 
stage unit, still structured in principle according to the mainlines of 
the well-proven O.M.I. tradition (mechanically separate X and Y movements) 
but particularly compact, easy to adjust and to service. 
Four hotilow columns support the self-contained stereocamparator above a 
specially designed table, leaving ample space on its top for the operation 
of a free-hand control, an operator's control panel and a keyboard video 
terminal, the most important man/machine interface device. 
The free-hand control is the prime X,Y,Z input control, but traditional 
handwheels and footwheel are available as plug-in options. In the latter 
case, the free-hand control remains fully operational as a planimetric 
input in conjunction with the handwheels, whereas its thumbwheel Z input 
can be enabled or disabled as an alternative to the footwheel at the flip 
of a switch. 
Two discrete magnification values, by substitution of the eyepieces, an 
easy-to-the-eye light mark, dove prism image rotation, Base-in/Base-out 
switching, a large eye relief and an optimal lppmm.resolution count give 
the AP5 the optical performance of much higher cost competitors. 
Ihe x, y photo stage movements are implemented according to the long-time 
tested O.M.I. design where the two axes of each stage are mechanically 
independent, and the feedback signals are provided by high resolution 
linear encoders. Iead-screw and DC motor drives complete the structure of 
each 9in x 9in stage. 
A very efficient, user-friendly Software is the heart of the AP-5 System. 
Running on the latest Micro PDP 11 computer that features a 256-KByte 
CPU memory expandable to 4 MBytes, a 10 MByte Winchester mass storage, 
two Floppy disk drives and four standard serial ports, the AP-5 Software 
includes the on-line and off-line programs that characterise much higher- 
cost analytical systems. 
Particular care was devoted to the numerical data acquisition, storage 
and editing, to make the system optimally oriented to the most modern 
criteria of photogrammetric information and data processing. 
DTM, cross-sectioning, distance and area calculations, strip and block 
adjustment and close-range model processing are all available features. 
For those users requiring line plotting, a flat-bed intelligent table 
featuring a high degree of automation is optionally available. 
Short term new developments include graphic CRT management and more 
advanced terrestrial and close-range programs.