Patent ID: 8711223

Claim:
A method of imaging for a vehicle, the method comprising: mounting an imaging apparatus to a body of a vehicle, the imaging apparatus including a frame, a payload assembly including a camera, and a plurality of vibration isolators each secured to the payload assembly and the frame such that the frame supports the payload assembly via the vibration isolators, the vibration isolators defining a center of elasticity that is substantially coincident with the center of mass of the payload assembly; and creating a video signal that is representative of optical radiation detected from an external scene with the camera during travel of the vehicle, wherein an optical axis defined by the camera is not adjustable with respect to the body of the vehicle during travel of the vehicle and is restricted from angular displacement, in response to vibration of the vehicle, by passive stabilization via the vibration isolators, wherein each of the plurality of vibration isolators defines a compression axis, and wherein the compression axes defined by the plurality of vibration isolators are all disposed in a same plane.