Aircraft sensor system synchronization

An aerial imaging system comprising:

• a first camera system carried by a first aircraft, wherein the first camera system generates first images during a flight of the first aircraft;
• an altitude sensor system carried by the first aircraft, wherein the altitude sensor system measures a first altitude for the first aircraft;
• and
• a controller for the first aircraft, wherein the controller is configured to:
• determine a first distance from the first aircraft to a key point using the first images of the key point generated by the first camera system associated with the first aircraft during the flight of the first aircraft and stereo depth triangulation;
• receive, from a second aircraft, a second distance to the key point from the second aircraft and a second altitude measured for the second aircraft;
• compare the first distance to the key point from the first aircraft and first altitude with the second distance to the key point from the second aircraft and the second altitude to form a comparison;
• and
• determine an offset between the first altitude for the first aircraft and the second altitude for the second aircraft using the comparison, wherein the offset is used to adjust an altitude of the first aircraft.

A method for operating an aerial imaging system, the method comprising:

• determining, by a computer system, a first altitude of a first aircraft using first images of a key point generated by the first aircraft during a flight of the first aircraft and stereo depth triangulation;
• comparing, by the computer system, the first altitude with a second altitude of a second aircraft determined by the second aircraft to form a comparison;
• determining, by the computer system, an offset between the first altitude and the second altitude using the comparison;
• adjusting, by the computer system, at least one of the first altitude or the second altitude based on the offset;
• and
• obtaining, by the computer system, a plurality of images of a region from the first aircraft at the first altitude and from the second aircraft at the second altitude.

A computer program product for operating an aerial imaging system, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable storage media;
• first program code, stored on the computer-readable storage media, executable by a computer system to cause the computer system to determine a first distance from a first aircraft to a key point using first images of the key point generated by the first aircraft during a flight of the first aircraft and stereo depth triangulation;
• second program code, stored on the computer-readable storage media, executable by the computer system to cause the computer system to compare the first distance to the key point from the first aircraft and a first altitude for the first aircraft measured by the first aircraft with a second distance to the key point from a second aircraft and a second altitude for the second aircraft measured by the second aircraft to form a comparison;
• and
• third program code, stored on the computer-readable storage media, executable by the computer system to cause the computer system to determine an offset between the first altitude for the first aircraft and the second altitude measured by the second aircraft using the comparison, wherein the offset is used to adjust an altitude of the first aircraft.