Integrated Optomechanical Analyses and Experimental Verification for a Thermal System of an Aerial Camera

The thermal control system based on a combination of passive and active methods for a compact aerial camera used in the unmanned aerial vehicle system is studied. Integrated analysis and an experimental method are developed to ensure both low-power limit and high image quality of the camera. For rapid estimation of thermal behavior, we develop a thermal mathematic model based on a thermal network method that also offers an initial design reference for the active control system; then we develop a more complex integrated analysis method to analyze and optimize the thermal system, which allows us to get performance insights such as internal temperature gradient and airflow of the compact system. We also focus on analyzing the optical surface errors under thermal disturbance. Comparisons of interferometer test records and thermal-elastic simulation results are presented, and this comparison shows that the integrated optomechanical analysis method contributes to the success of optomechanical system design by ensuring thermal disturbance will not deform the optical surfaces beyond allowable limits. Finally, the design method is verified through a thermo-optic experiment.