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Chapter 5: Measurements
Introduction
High-speed photography is as much of an engineering tool
as an oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, or logic analyzer.
The photographic technique enables us to visualize and
analyze motion, especially motion that is too fast for the
human eye or conventional cameras to perceive.
For decades, Phantom Cine (high-speed digital video)
files have been used to measure moving objects by
the defense, scientific and research, and industrial
communities to extract and quantify motion from a file.
As high speed digital cameras continue to make
advancement in recording speeds, sensitivity and
resolutions so must the motion analysis software used to
extract the data they record. Data that allows the defense
community to examine the speed, angle and angular
speed a shock wave from an explosive device.
Information automotive engineers require to evaluate
the safety and effectiveness of an airbag design by
determining the time, speed, and angle it takes the airbag
to deploy fully. Studies by the scientific and research
community analyzing human locomotion by measuring
the angle a knee joint bends and the compression the
knee joint endures while running, or the speed of a
lightning bolt. Not to mention manufacturers needing to
measure the angular speed (Revolutions Per Minute) a
new hard drive motor can spin without causing damage
to the disk, or being able to measure the effect the angle
of impact a golf club will have on the rotational speed of
a golf ball.
The ability to analyze all of this data quickly and accu-
rately inherently decreases product development time,
and more importantly reduces research and development
expenditures. Of course extracting this information from a
digital high speed video is only as good as the tools used
to accomplish it.
Measurements
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