At the top of the API Ladar interface is a set of utility controls.
Collection:: Group:: Target. The name control identifies the name of the next acquired point taken from the instrument.
Home. Return home to the LADAR mounted nest and return to original position.
Focus. Performs a beam focus operation at the current location.
Basic measurements at the current beam location can be accomplished by pressing the Measure Pt. button.
Measure Pt. This Option offers two options using the [Set] but- ton: Send Point to SA and Measure Sphere. Point to SA Measures a point at current location and sends to SA. Selecting Measure Sphere will perform of a scan of a sphere of a given size and the desired data will be returned.
Direct measurement of selected objects can be performed with the Tooling Ball, Plane, Circle, and Cylinder Scan buttons. In each case the scan will use the settings saved for the feature type.
Tool Ball Scan. Select sphere(s) from SA to measure. The [Set] button offers control over the scan parameters to use (Scan Line Spacing and data format to send).
Plane Scan. Select plane(s) from SA to measure- The [Set] but- ton offers control over the scan parameters to use (Scan Line Spacing and Width of Extra Area Around Scan).
Circle Scan. Select circle(s) from SA to measure - The [Set] but- ton offers control over the scan parameters to use (Scan Line Spacing and Width of Extra Area Around Scan, and what return data to record in SA).
Cylinder Scan. Select cylinder(s) from SA to measure- The [Set] button offers control over the scan parameters to use (Scan Line Spacing and Width of Extra Area Around Scan).
iVision. This button will open video window which also offers near complete measured control.
Refer to the API Ladar documentation for details on the use of the iVision Camera and its capabilities.
Point Measurement
Drive the beam by clicking in the view. You can do this by clicking or by enabling the Gimbal Control which allows you to click and hold to drive.
Under Device Control press the Get Point button. A point will be created in SA using the name currently entered in the interface. It will also be marked in the camera view.
Repeat as needed.
Feature Detection:
To measure a contrast target for example you have a couple of options.
Within the camera view you can press the Contrast Target button.
The ivision control will search the camera view and identify targets in the view. You can then click on one to center on that target.
You can the use the Get Point button to trigger a measurement centered on the target.
Alternatively you can scan a contrast target and then extract the center point from within SA using the point extraction tool on the Instrument tab of the ribbon.
Region Measurement:
Select Rectangle or Polyline from the Selection section.
Define region to scan. In rectangle mode you click and drag to draw a rectangular region. In Polyline mode you click to define a perimeter in the camera view.
Right click on the region in the view and select Define Region. This is where you control the resolution of the scan
To begin the measurement, close the iVision window or bring up the interface control and press the San Last Path button within the instrument interface.
Image Capture:
The Ladar offers both individual image capture and the ability to define panoramic image.
In either case the image will first need to be saved (using the Image Save button) to disk and can then be transferred to SA by simply drag- drop in the SA graphics, or directly into an SA report, to add it as an embedded file for use in a report.