Combined vision system for helicopter bucket firefighting

Abstract

The combined visual system for extinguishing fire by the helicopter bucket of the present application is suitable for visual guidance of target area fire extinguishing on board, and is provided with a photoelectric pod, a comprehensive processing computer and a guidance display on board. The comprehensive processing computer comprises an ARM processor, an image superposition processing FPGA and is pre-stored with a terrain database and actual water source attribute information. The actual water source attribute information comprises water depth, area and clearance information. The ARM processor acquires current GPS information on board, and the GPS information is matched and searched in the terrain database to obtain current regional map information on board. Three-dimensional visual software generates display information of three-dimensional terrain, obstacles and water sources according to the current regional map information, and displays the display information on the guidance display, thereby solving the technical problem of low use performance of the current on-board fire extinguishing system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of airborne display systems, and in particular relates to a combined visual system for helicopter bucket fire extinguishing. Background Art

[0002] Helicopter bucket firefighting is a highly effective forest fire response measure. It utilizes a helicopter's external bucket to draw water from a source at least two meters deep, close to the fire site and in good airspace. Over the fire, an electric valve controls the release of water from the bucket's bottom valve, spraying the water from the air onto the fire's head and along the fire line, directly extinguishing the forest fire. The combined vision system is a highly integrated avionics display system that utilizes a precise 3D terrain database to generate a virtual 3D view corresponding to the actual environment. This system also overlays thermal radiation images captured by infrared cameras, providing pilots with comprehensive, all-weather enhanced visual information to improve flight safety and operational efficiency.

[0003] Helicopter bucket firefighting missions usually face complex mission environments. Applying the combined vision system to helicopter bucket firefighting missions can significantly enhance the pilot's situational awareness and situational awareness in complex firefighting environments, quickly provide the pilot with fire scene and water source information, and greatly enhance the helicopter's ability to perform bucket firefighting missions. It not only improves the accuracy and efficiency of bucket firefighting operations, but also ensures flight safety.

[0004] The system relies on the pilot to find the water source based on the current information. The current information can be sent from the ground control station or the approximate location of the water source in the pilot's memory. The disadvantage is that it is impossible to make an initial assessment of the relevant parameters of the water source, including the area, depth and clearance height of the water source, resulting in low performance of the onboard fire extinguishing system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the combined visual system for helicopter bucket fire extinguishing provided by the present invention solves the technical problem of low performance of current airborne fire extinguishing systems.

[0006] A combined visual system for helicopter bucket firefighting is suitable for airborne visual guidance of target area firefighting. The system is equipped with an optoelectronic pod, an integrated processing computer, and a guidance display. The integrated processing computer includes an ARM processor and pre-stores a terrain database and actual water source attribute information. The actual water source attribute information includes water depth, area, and clearance information.

[0007] The ARM processor obtains the current GPS information on board, performs a matching search on the terrain database, obtains the map information of the current area on board, generates the display information of the three-dimensional terrain obstacles and water sources according to the three-dimensional vision software, and displays it on the guidance display.

[0008] Technical benefits of the present application:

[0009] The present application generates three-dimensional terrain by using high-precision terrain database through ARM processor, generates water source information image (including water depth, clearance, water availability identification, etc.) in the surrounding area of fire scene by using water body database, and fuses three-dimensional terrain and water source information image into three-dimensional forest area water pumping map, obtains fire scene related information (fire scene range, fire head, fire line, etc.) through infrared detector and photoelectric image processor, and superimposes and displays three-dimensional forest area water pumping map and fire scene information image containing fire head and fire line through image superimposition processing FPGA, so as to provide pilots performing helicopter bucket fire extinguishing task with scene awareness and situation awareness ability of complex terrain, fire scene information and water source information, and improve efficiency and flexibility of fire extinguishing operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced as follows. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings according to these drawings without creative labor.

[0011] Fig. 1 The principle block diagram for the present application is shown in the figure.

[0012] Fig. 2 The working flow chart of the present application is shown in the figure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0014] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0015] It should be noted that various aspects of the embodiments within the scope of the appended claims are described below. It should be apparent that the aspects described herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, and any specific structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on this disclosure, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that an aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspect, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number of aspects described herein can be used to implement an apparatus and / or practice a method. In addition, other structures and / or functionalities other than one or more of the aspects described herein can be used to implement this apparatus and / or practice this method.

[0016] like Figs. 1-2 The combined visual system for helicopter bucket firefighting shown is suitable for airborne visual guidance of target area firefighting. The airborne system is equipped with an optoelectronic pod, an integrated processing computer, and a guidance display. The integrated processing computer includes an ARM processor and pre-stores a terrain database and actual water source attribute information. The actual water source attribute information includes water depth, area, and clearance information.

[0017] The ARM processor obtains the current GPS information on board the aircraft, performs a matching search on the terrain database on the GPS information, and obtains the map information of the current area on board the aircraft. The current area map information generates display information of three-dimensional terrain obstacles and water sources according to the three-dimensional vision software, and displays it on the guidance display. For example, a three-dimensional terrain image of a forest fire prevention area is generated, highlighting information such as terrain features, obstacles, and dangerous areas.

[0018] As a specific implementation method provided in this case, the 3D visual software generates 3D terrain, obstacles, and water source display information based on the current area map information, including:

[0019] If there are multiple water sources within a preset distance range of the fire area, they are sorted according to the numerical value of the actual water source attribute information of each water source, displayed on the guidance display, and assigned a corresponding degree display value. For example, the water source with the best actual water source attribute performance is given a 5-star display, and the remaining water source attributes are displayed with stars in descending order, such as 4 stars, 3 stars, etc., to complete the evaluation of the attributes of multiple water sources.

[0020] Furthermore, the guidance display includes the judgment of comprehensive utilization of water resources,

[0021] Obtain the obstacle proportion coefficient corresponding to each water source, and judge whether the obstacle proportion coefficient of the water source corresponding to the highest degree display value is greater than a preset value and the obstacle proportion coefficient of the water source corresponding to the secondary degree display value is less than the preset value, if so, the preset color is marked and displayed, for example, four stars are displayed in green, and five stars are displayed in red, prompting the pilot to preferentially select the green four stars, because the obstacle proportion coefficient of the water source corresponding to the red five stars is relatively large, the clearance obstacle is relatively large, and it is easy to scratch the fuselage.

[0022] Further, as shown in Fig. 2 indicated, the display on the display includes,

[0023] The degree display value and the corresponding actual water source attribute information are superimposed and displayed on the three-dimensional map displayed by the display, for example, transmitted to the image superposition processing FPGA chip in the comprehensive processing computer for processing; the ARM processor fuses and displays the three-dimensional terrain image and the water source information, generates a three-dimensional forest water pumping map, and transmits it to the image superposition processing FPGA. The three-dimensional terrain of the forest fire prevention area and the water depth, clearance, and water pumping availability of the surrounding water source are displayed on the map, and the purpose is to help the pilot quickly obtain the related information of the water source near the fire scene on the three-dimensional map and make the best water pumping decision for executing the fire extinguishing task;

[0024] According to the infrared detector and the photoelectric image processor on the photoelectric pod, the fire area is taken as the target area for detection, and the fire scene information of the fire area is obtained, including the fire scene boundary, the fire head, the fire line and the like.

[0025] The infrared detector and the photoelectric image processor generate a fire scene information image through the fire scene information, which is superimposed and displayed on the three-dimensional map displayed by the display. The image superposition processing FPGA receives the three-dimensional forest water pumping map and the fire scene information image, superimposes the fire scene information on the three-dimensional forest water pumping map according to the fire scene position, the fire scene range and the like, generates and outputs a combined view image to the display system. It can provide the pilot with highlighted fire scene boundary, fire head, fire line and the like, help the pilot master the fire scene dynamics and development trend, and quickly develop a water throwing strategy.

[0026] In the above, the ARM processor generates a three-dimensional terrain image of the fire prevention area by using a high-precision terrain database, and displays the information of the terrain features and the dangerous area. The image superposition processing FPGA superimposes the fire scene information on the three-dimensional forest water pumping map, which can provide the pilot with highlighted fire scene information, including the fire scene boundary, the fire head, the fire line and the like, help the pilot master the fire scene dynamics and development trend, and quickly develop a water throwing strategy.

[0027] The working process of the combined view system in the application is as follows:

[0028] (1) The ARM processor generates a three-dimensional terrain image of the forest fire prevention area using a high-precision terrain database, including mountains, forests, water bodies, etc., highlighting terrain features, dangerous areas, etc.

[0029] (2) The ARM processor analyzes the water bodies in the target area using a water body database to generate water source information including water depth, clearance at the water body, water availability identification, etc., providing reference information for the pilot to select a water source for water scooping;

[0030] (3) The ARM processor fuses and displays the three-dimensional terrain image and the water source information to generate a three-dimensional forest area water scooping map, which can help the pilot quickly obtain information such as water depth, clearance at the water body, water availability, etc. of the water source near the fire site on the three-dimensional map, and make the best water scooping decision for executing the fire extinguishing task;

[0031] (4) When a fire occurs, the infrared imaging camera quickly scans the fire site to obtain fire site information such as fire site boundary, fire head, fire line, etc.

[0032] (5) The image superimposition processing FPGA superimposes the fire site information onto the three-dimensional forest area water scooping map, which can provide the pilot with highlighted fire site boundary, fire head, fire line, etc., helping the pilot to grasp the fire site dynamics and development trend, and quickly develop a water dropping strategy.

[0033] Advantages: In low visibility scenarios, it can provide the pilot with a three-dimensional terrain image, highlighting terrain features, dangerous areas, significantly reducing the risk of flight accidents caused by implementation obstacles, which is crucial for executing low-altitude flight and bucket fire extinguishing tasks in mountainous and complex terrain. In the case of limited or unreliable ground guidance, accurate terrain and fire site perception capability enables the helicopter to reach the fire point more quickly, improving fire extinguishing efficiency. It can provide the pilot with highlighted fire site information, including fire site boundary, fire head, fire line, etc., helping the pilot to grasp the fire site dynamics and development trend, and quickly and accurately make water dropping decisions, improving fire extinguishing efficiency. It can provide the pilot with specific information about water bodies near the fire site, including water depth, clearance at the water body, water availability, etc., helping the pilot to make the best water scooping decision and reduce water scooping round trip time.

[0034] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed by the present disclosure can be easily thought of by those skilled in the art, which should be covered within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A combined vision system for extinguishing fire by a helicopter bucket, suitable for onboard visual guidance of a target area for fire extinguishing, characterized in that, The photoelectric pod, the integrated processing computer and the guide display are arranged on the aircraft, the integrated processing computer includes an ARM processor, an image superposition processing FPGA, and pre-stores a terrain database and actual water source attribute information, the actual water source attribute information includes water depth, area and clearance information, wherein, The ARM processor acquires current GPS information of the aircraft, and the GPS information is matched and searched in the terrain database to obtain current regional map information of the aircraft; The three-dimensional view software generates display information of three-dimensional terrain, obstacles and water sources according to the current regional map information, and displays the display information on the guide display, if there are multiple water sources within a preset distance range of the fire area, the water sources are sorted according to the value of the actual water source attribute information of each water source, and the sorted water sources are displayed on the guide display, and a degree display value is correspondingly assigned to each water source, wherein the display on the guide display includes, An obstacle proportion coefficient corresponding to each water source is acquired, and it is judged that if the obstacle proportion coefficient of the water source corresponding to the highest degree display value is greater than a preset value, and the obstacle proportion coefficient of the water source corresponding to the secondary degree display value is less than the preset value, a preset color is identified and displayed; The degree display value and the corresponding actual water source attribute information are superimposed and displayed on the three-dimensional map displayed on the guide display, the ARM processor fuses and displays the three-dimensional terrain image and the water source information to generate a three-dimensional forest area water pumping map, and transmits the three-dimensional forest area water pumping map to the image superposition processing FPGA.

2. The combined viewing system of claim 1, wherein, The display on the guide display includes, The infrared detector on the photoelectric pod detects the fire area as the target area according to the fire area to obtain fire field information of the fire area, the fire field information includes fire field boundary, fire head and fire line fire field information; The photoelectric image processor generates a fire field information image according to the fire field information, and the fire field information image is superimposed and displayed on the three-dimensional map displayed on the guide display.

3. The combined viewing system of claim 2, wherein, The ARM processor generates a three-dimensional terrain image of the fireproof area by using a high-precision terrain database, and displays terrain features and information of dangerous areas.

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