Automated process for generating a computed design of a composite camera comprising multiple digital imaging devices

A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for automatically generating a computed design of a composite camera comprising a plurality of digital imaging devices, said instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• obtaining a target volume to be captured by the composite camera;
• obtaining a target resolution for capturing said target volume;
• generating a representation of a view frustum of each of a plurality of digital imaging devices based on at least one characteristic of each of the digital imaging devices, wherein each of the digital imaging devices comprises at least one image capture element and a lens;
• organizing said plurality of digital imaging devices based on said view frusta of the digital imaging devices;
• selecting a set of digital imaging devices from said organized digital imaging devices based on at least one characteristic of each of the digital imaging devices in the selected set, the view frusta of said digital imaging devices substantially covering said target volume with at least the target resolution;
• determining positions of said digital imaging devices in the selected set based on physical characteristics of the digital imaging devices in the selected set;
• and
• generating a computed design of said composite camera comprising said digital imaging devices in the selected set positioned in the determined positions.

A method for forming a mechanical fixture for mounting a set of digital imaging devices to form a composite camera, comprising:

• generating three-dimensional mount shapes corresponding to mounting requirements of a set of digital imaging devices of a computed design of the composite camera, said computed design being generated by a process comprising
• obtaining a target volume to be captured by said composite cameras,
• obtaining a target resolution for capturing said target volume,
• generating a representation of a view frustum of each of a plurality of digital imaging devices based on at least one characteristic of each of the digital imaging devices, wherein each of the digital imaging devices comprises at least one image capture element and a lens,
• organizing said plurality of digital imaging devices based on said view frusta of the digital imaging devices,
• selecting said set of digital imaging devices from said organized digital imaging devices based on at least one characteristic of each of the digital imaging devices in the selected set, the view frusta of said digital imaging devices in the selected set substantially covering said target volume with at least the target resolution,
• determining positions of said digital imaging devices in the selected set based on physical characteristics of the digital imaging devices in the selected set, and
• generating said computed design of said composite camera comprising said digital imaging devices in the selected set positioned in the determined positions;
• obtaining a computer model of said composite camera;
• subtracting locations of said mount shapes from a model of a block of material to obtain a computer model of a mounting fixture for said composite camera;
• and
• sending said computer model of said mounting fixture to form a physical part.