Automated panoramic camera and sensor platform with computer and optional power supply

An automated panoramic camera and sensor platform comprising:

• an indexing mechanism comprising:
• a cam control ring disposed between the drive table and the indexing table, the cam control ring including a plurality of lobes formed in an inner edge surface of the cam control ring, the inner edge surface of the cam control ring serving as a cam;
• a cam follower including an elongate drive arm and an elongate indexing arm, the elongate drive arm being coupled to the drive table and an end of the elongate indexing arm riding against the inner surface of the cam control ring, over the lobes, during use, so that the elongate indexing arm is caused to move in and out as it rides against the inner edge surface of the cam control ring, constant spinning of the drive table being transformed into an indexing motion of the indexing table by the in and out motion of the elongate indexing arm as it rides against the inner edge surface of the cam control ring;
• and
• a spring coupled between the drive table and the indexing table, the spring loading with tension created between the constantly spinning drive table and the indexing table when as the indexing table is stopped, the spring unloading and applying an accelerating thrust to the indexing table to move the indexing table once a dwell period corresponding to the inner edge surface of the cam control ring is over so as to aid in moving the indexing table to the next position;
• and
• a camera mounted to the indexing table.

A method of providing a panoramic image data from a single camera mounted to an indexing mechanism, the method comprising:

• providing an automated panoramic camera and sensor platform comprising a camera mounted to an indexing table of an indexing mechanism and an indexing mechanism, the indexing mechanism comprising:
• a cam control ring disposed between the drive table and the indexing table, the cam control ring including a plurality of lobes formed in an inner edge surface of the cam control ring, the inner edge surface of the cam control ring serving as a cam;
• a cam follower including an elongate drive arm and an elongate indexing arm, the elongate drive arm being coupled to the drive table and an end of the elongate indexing arm riding against the inner surface of the cam control ring, over the lobes, during use, so that the elongate indexing arm is caused to move in and out as it rides against the inner edge surface of the cam control ring, constant spinning of the drive table being transformed into an indexing motion of the indexing table by the in and out motion of the elongate indexing arm as it rides against the inner edge surface of the cam control ring;
• and
• a spring coupled between the drive table and the indexing table, the spring loading with tension created between the constantly spinning drive table and the indexing table when as the indexing table is stopped, the spring unloading and applying an accelerating thrust to the indexing table to move the indexing table once a dwell period corresponding to the inner edge surface of the cam control ring is over so as to aid in moving the indexing table to the next position;
• and
• obtaining a plurality of still images from the camera at different lobe positions of the indexing mechanism.