Fast foveation camera and controlling algorithms

A camera comprising:

• a passive sensor;
• a dynamic optical modulator;
• an optical modulator controller configured to control an orientation of the dynamic optical modulator;
• and
• a processor configured to receive digital image data from the passive sensor and to control the optical modulator controller,
• wherein the dynamic optical modulator is configured to reflect a beam of light from a scene of interest onto the passive sensor,
• wherein the processor is configured to control the optical modulator controller in accordance with a control algorithm, and
• wherein the control algorithm provides a mirror speed for movement of the dynamic optical modulator and a frame-rate speed for capturing digital image data by the passive sensor, wherein the mirror speed and the frame-rate speed are calibrated by:
• (a) an image is captured of a calibration scene using the camera;
• (b) analysis of the image is performed to determine if a blur is present in the image;
• (c) (i) reduction of a frame rate of the camera and returning to step (a) in response to a determination that no blur is present in the image;
• (ii) reduce a mirror speed of the dynamic optical modulator and returning to step (a) in response to a determination that a blur above a predetermined size is present in the image;
• and
• (iii) determine that the control algorithm is calibrated in response to a determination that a blur below the predetermined size is present in the image.