AS-11B-X Automated Stereomapper

Most stereoplotter systems currently in use were designed primarily for producing contour and profile outputs on a coordinatograph. Recently, however, there has been an increasing need for topographic information in the form of digital gridpoint elevation data. While some existing systems can be used to extract this type of data, they cannot do it rapidly or efficiently. The AS-11B-X system is an experimental model of a new type of system intended particularly for the rapid collection of digital elevation data. The system achieves an increase in data collection rates of from 10-50 times that presently being obtained with conventional systems, at equivalent accuracy. The AS-11B-X system obtains its high data-collection rates by processing multiple lines of elevation points in parallel using digital processing. A combination of special techniques is used to simplify the digital processing and to reduce the amount of data storage required. While the AS-11B-X was built for evaluation as an experimental system, it has undergone extensive testing that has proven its performance capabilities and demonstrated that it can be used as a production system.