Enhanced pointing angle validation

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for enhanced pointing angle validation. A device may generate a collimated beam using a light source emitting a light beam through a fiducial target in an optical instrument. The device may capture an image fiducial target using a camera, wherein the camera is mounted on a mounting datum that is orthogonal to the collimated beam. The device may determine a pointing angle associated with camera based on the captured image of the fiducial target. The device may compare a location of the fiducial target in the image to an optical center of the camera. The device may determine a validation status of camera based on the location of the fiducial target in the image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an optical instrument configured to perform orientation measurements of an object;   an adjustment fixture configured to vary an orientation of the object coupled to the adjustment fixture, wherein the object includes a camera or a mirror; and   an alignment validation module configured to determine a validation status of the object, when the object is the camera.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment validation module is further configured to determine an orthogonality of a light beam using a reflection onto a reticle, when the object is the mirror; and
 wherein the optical instrument comprises an eyepiece situated to align the reflection of the light beam to a crosshair associated with the reticle of the optical instrument.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical instrument is an autocollimator device or a collimator device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical instrument is selected based on one or more design parameters associated with a focal length of the camera and a focal length of a collimator device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more design parameters are based on a ratio of the focal length of the collimator device and the focal length of the camera being less than a ratio of a size of an opening on the collimator device and number of pixels and a pixel pitch. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the validation status is a pass or a fail status. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a comparison module that compares a fixture displacement to a validation threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the validation status is a pass status when the fixture displacement is below the validation threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the validation status is a fail status when the fixture displacement exceeds the validation threshold. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle system comprising:
 at least one camera validated by the system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is configured to mount to a vehicle to capture an image indicative of an environment external to the vehicle; and   a controller programmed to control at least one of a braking system, a steering system, and an infotainment system based on the image.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a front-facing camera and the image is indicative of the environment in front of the vehicle; and
 wherein the controller is further programmed to control the braking system based on the image.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a rear-facing camera and the image is indicative of the environment behind the vehicle; and
 wherein the controller is further programmed to control the infotainment system to display the image on a display screen.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a roof-mounted camera and the image is indicative of a field-of-view about the vehicle; and
 wherein the controller is further programmed to control the steering system to navigate the vehicle around obstacles based on the image.   
     
     
         14 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body;   at least one camera validated by the system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is mounted to the vehicle body and configured to capture an image indicative of an environment external to the vehicle; and   a controller programmed to control at least one of a braking system, a steering system, and an infotainment system based on the image.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 generating, by one or more processors, a collimated beam using a light source emitting a light beam through a fiducial target in an optical instrument;   capturing an image of a fiducial target using a camera, wherein the camera is mounted on a mounting datum that is orthogonal to the collimated beam;   comparing a location of the fiducial target on the image to an optical center of a camera; and   determining a validation status of the camera based on the location of the fiducial target on the image.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining a pointing angle associated with the camera based on the image of the fiducial target.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 capturing, by the camera, an environment image indicative of an environment external to a vehicle; and   controlling at least one of a braking system, a steering system, and an infotainment system based on the environment image.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:
 generating a collimated beam using a light source emitting a light beam through a fiducial target in an optical instrument;   capturing an image of a fiducial target using a camera, wherein the camera is mounted on a mounting datum that is orthogonal to the collimated beam;   comparing a location of the fiducial target on the image to an optical center of the camera; and   determining a validation status of the camera based on the location of the fiducial target on the image.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprise instructions for:
 determining a pointing angle associated with the camera based on the image of the fiducial target.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprise instructions for:
 capturing, by the camera, an environment image indicative of an environment external to a vehicle; and   controlling at least one of a braking system, a steering system, and an infotainment system based on the environment image.