Systems, methods, and apparatus for optical bore sight error measurement and correction

A system for determining bore sight error, the system comprising:

• an optical lens configured to focus an image at a focal plane using any one of a plurality of focal lengths;
• an imaging sensor configured to generate an image based on light received from the optical lens;
• a collimated light source configured to emit a beam of collimated light having a first wavelength, the beam of collimated light passing through the optical lens and parallel to an optical axis of the optical lens;
• a position sensitive detector configured to receive the beam and identify a first position of the beam relative to the position sensitive detector;
• a first reflective member configured to receive the beam from the collimated light source and reflect the beam through the optical lens;
• a second reflective member configured to receive the beam of light from the first reflective member and reflect the beam to the position sensitive detector;
• and
• a processing device communicatively coupled to the position sensitive detector, the processing device being configured to generate a bore sight error metric based, at least in part, on the first position identified by the position sensitive detector, the bore sight error metric characterizing a difference between an actual position of a target object and a perceived position viewed by the optical lens.

A method for determining bore sight error, the method comprising:

• transmitting, from a collimated light source, a collimated beam of light through an optical lens and to a position sensitive detector;
• determining, using the position sensitive detector, a first position and a second position associated with the collimated beam of light, the first position and the second position being determined relative to a sensing surface of the position sensitive detector;
• and
• determining a bore sight error metric based, at least in part, on a relationship between the determined first position and the second position of the collimated beam of light.