Direction indicating device, unmanned aerial vehicle and gully strike confirmation system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a direction indicating device, unmanned plane and gully strike confirmation system relates to unmanned plane surveying technical field, through setting up connecting mechanism, installation mechanism and a plurality of direction indicating pieces, when using, through forming the connecting position at the top of connecting mechanism, makes the connecting position can be connected with external device, installs the installation mechanism on the bottom of connecting mechanism, and forms a plurality of circumferential interval distribution's direction indicating position on the installation mechanism, installs a direction indicating piece on every direction indicating position, can install direction indicating device below unmanned plane, makes the image data that unmanned plane is gathered when carrying out photographic survey to gully, and records north or south, and then can also be convenient for operating personnel to confirm the strike of gully directly in the image data of gathering, and operating personnel need not convert image data, can ensure the judgment accuracy of gully strike and also can ensure the judgment efficiency of gully strike.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveying technology, and in particular to a direction indicator device, a UAV, and a gully direction confirmation system. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of geological exploration technology, geological exploration or surveys of gullies in mountainous areas have gradually become an important part of geological work. As one of the complex geomorphic features in mountainous areas, determining the direction of gullies is of great significance for geological hazard assessment, geological structure analysis, and ecological environmental protection. Traditionally, gully direction determination relies on manual surveying, where geologists observe and record the direction of gullies on-site. While this method is intuitive, it is inefficient and highly dependent on environmental conditions. In recent years, with the application of photogrammetry technology, drones have gradually played an important role in the geological field, providing a new technical means for gully direction determination.

[0003] Currently, when conducting photogrammetry on gullies in mountainous areas, drones are typically used to comprehensively acquire images of the target area, and then the acquired image data is analyzed and processed. Workers then determine the direction of the gullies based on gully features in the images and their experience. However, determining the direction from the images often requires workers to use external direction-finding equipment to confirm the gully's direction, ensuring accuracy and thus affecting the efficiency of the determination. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main purpose of this invention is to propose a direction indicator device, a drone, and a gully direction confirmation system. The aim is to solve the technical problem that in the process of determining the direction in an image, operators often need to use an external direction indicator device to confirm the gully direction, which affects the accuracy of the direction determination and the efficiency of the gully direction determination.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a direction indicating device, comprising: A connecting mechanism, wherein a connecting position is formed on the top of the connecting mechanism; An installation mechanism is mounted on the bottom of the connecting mechanism, and the installation mechanism has a plurality of circumferentially spaced direction indicator positions formed on it; and Multiple direction indicators are provided, the number of which is consistent with the number of the direction indicator positions and they are installed in a one-to-one correspondence, and all of the direction indicators are configured to point to the north or south.

[0006] In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism includes: Multiple connecting components, the connecting components forming the connecting positions, the connecting components being detachably connectable to an external device; and... Multiple connecting rods are provided, the number of which is the same as that of the connecting components and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. The bottom of all the connecting rods is hinged to the mounting mechanism, and all the connecting rods are distributed circumferentially at intervals in the mounting mechanism.

[0007] In one embodiment, the connection component includes: A first engaging half-ring, connected to the connecting rod, has a first half-ring groove formed at its top for engaging with the external device, and first connecting positions and engaging grooves relatively distributed at both ends of the first half-ring groove; and... The second snap-fit ​​half-ring has a second half-ring groove formed at its bottom that can snap with the external device. The first half-ring groove and the second half-ring groove are concentrically arranged. The second snap-fit ​​half-ring has a second connecting position and a snap-fit ​​protrusion that are relatively distributed at both ends of the second half-ring groove. The second connecting position is hinged to the first connecting position, and the snap-fit ​​protrusion can snap with the snap-fit ​​groove.

[0008] In one embodiment, a bolt hole extending vertically through the engagement groove is formed therein; The connection component also includes: A locking screw, rotatably mounted to the engaging protrusion, the locking screw passing through the bolt hole; and... A locking component, which is threadedly engaged with the locking screw and can lock the first locking half ring and the second locking half ring.

[0009] In one embodiment, the connecting rod includes a first connecting segment, a second connecting segment, and a third connecting segment connected in sequence. The first connecting segment is threadedly engaged with the mounting mechanism and rotatably engaged with the second connecting segment. The third connecting segment is threadedly engaged with the first snap-fit ​​semi-circular ring and rotatably engaged with the second connecting segment.

[0010] In one embodiment, the mounting mechanism includes: Multiple mounting components are distributed circumferentially and enclosed to form a circular mounting ring. All mounting components can be connected to the connecting mechanism, and each mounting component has a connection position. Multiple adjustment components are provided, with one adjustment component connected between any two adjacent mounting components. The adjustment components enable the spacing between any two adjacent mounting components to move any direction indicator closer to or further away from the center of the mounting ring.

[0011] In one embodiment, the mounting component includes: An arc-shaped frame segment, on which an installation channel is formed extending along an arc and penetrating through, is connected to the connecting mechanism; A mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is mounted on the top of the arc-shaped frame segment, and a mounting groove is formed on the mounting plate, into which the direction indicator can be engaged; and, A protective cover, which is fastened to the mounting plate, is a transparent cover.

[0012] In one embodiment, the adjustment component includes: A first threaded connection segment, wherein one of the arc-shaped frame segments of the first threaded connection segment is connected, and the first threaded connection segment extends out of the corresponding arc-shaped frame segment; A threaded adjusting sleeve, wherein the threaded adjusting sleeve is threadedly engaged with the threaded connecting section; and... The second threaded connection segment is installed on another arc-shaped frame segment and extends out of the corresponding arc-shaped frame segment. The second threaded connection segment is threadedly engaged with the threaded adjusting sleeve. The threaded connecting sleeve can be adjusted to bring the first threaded connection segment and the second threaded connection segment closer to each other or further apart, so as to adjust the distance between the first threaded connection segment and the second threaded connection segment.

[0013] Based on the same technical concept, in a second aspect, this utility model also proposes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising: Organism; Camera; The camera is mounted at a distance from the camera body on the bottom of the support leg, with the bottom of the support leg extending downward beyond the camera; and... The direction indicator device described in the first aspect is mounted on the support leg and is located below the camera.

[0014] Based on the same technical concept, in a third aspect, this utility model also proposes a gully direction confirmation system, including the UAV described in the first aspect.

[0015] The technical solution of this utility model, by setting a connecting mechanism, an installation mechanism, and multiple direction indicators, allows for connection to an external device by forming a connection position at the top of the connecting mechanism. The installation mechanism is installed at the bottom of the connecting mechanism, and multiple circumferentially spaced direction indicator positions are formed on the installation mechanism. A direction indicator is installed at each direction indicator position. This allows the direction indicator device of this utility model to be installed below a drone, so that when the drone performs photogrammetry on a gully, the image data collected will record north or south. This makes it easy for operators to directly confirm the direction of the gully from the collected image data without the need for operators to convert the image data, thus ensuring both the accuracy and efficiency of gully direction determination. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the direction indicator device provided by this utility model in its working state; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the direction indicator device in the example; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the connecting mechanism in the example; Figure 4 for Figure 2 The example installation mechanism is shown in the diagram. Attached image description: 100. Connecting mechanism; 200. Mounting mechanism; 300. Direction indicator; 110. Connecting assembly; 120. Connecting rod; 111. First snap-fit ​​half-ring; 112. First half-ring groove; 113. First connecting position; 114. Snap-fit ​​groove; 115. Second snap-fit ​​half-ring; 116. Second half-ring groove; 117. Second connecting position; 118. Snap-fit ​​protrusion; 11. Locking screw; 12. Locking element; 121. First connecting section; 122. Second connecting section; 123. Third connecting section; 210. Mounting assembly; 220. Adjusting assembly; 211. Arc-shaped frame section; 212. Mounting plate; 213. Protective cover; 221. First threaded connecting section; 222. Threaded adjusting sleeve; 223. Second threaded connecting section; 10. Body; 20. Camera; 30. Support leg; 40. Direction indicator device.

[0019] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0021] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0022] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0023] Traditional methods for determining gully direction from UAV imagery rely heavily on external directional indicators. This reliance necessitates operators using separate devices like compasses during image analysis to confirm directional references, disrupting the workflow. Furthermore, real-time alignment between external devices and the UAV imagery coordinate system is difficult, requiring manual calibration and limiting the efficiency of real-time gully direction determination. Specifically, this problem stems from the lack of built-in directional indicators in the imagery data, forcing operators to repeatedly switch between devices for comparison, thus impacting the overall smoothness of geological survey operations.

[0024] For example, in a geological survey of gullies in a high-altitude mountainous area, a drone hovered over complex terrain to collect images. The gully features appeared blurry and discontinuous in the images. Operators had to pause the image processing workflow, manually determine the direction using an external compass, and then match the reference information with the image coordinate system. In this scenario, due to the dynamic changes in the drone's flight attitude, there was a spatial discrepancy between the direction indication provided by the external device and the image, leading to multiple repetitive calibration operations. This forced a prolonged image analysis process, and the inconsistency in the direction reference increased the uncertainty in determining the orientation.

[0025] This utility model proposes a direction indicator device, a drone, and a gully direction confirmation system.

[0026] Please see Figures 1 to 4 For ease of understanding, this direction indicator device includes a connecting mechanism 100, a mounting mechanism 200, and a plurality of direction indicator elements 300. The top of the connecting mechanism 100 has a connecting position, and the mounting mechanism 200 is mounted on the bottom of the connecting mechanism 100. The mounting mechanism 200 has a plurality of direction indicator positions distributed circumferentially. The number of direction indicator elements 300 is the same as the number of direction indicator positions and they are installed in a one-to-one correspondence. All direction indicator elements 300 are configured to point north or south.

[0027] In practical applications, the connection position refers to the interface structure on the top of the connection mechanism 100 for docking with external devices. This can be achieved using internal threaded holes, snap-fit ​​grooves, or magnetic components. For example, an internal threaded hole can be provided on the top of the connection mechanism 100 to engage with the external thread of the drone's legs 30, primarily to ensure a stable installation of the device and the drone. Further, the direction indicator position refers to the fixing structure on the mounting mechanism 200 used to position the direction indicator 300. This can be achieved using recessed grooves, through holes, or engraved markings. For example, recessed grooves evenly distributed along the circumference can be machined on the surface of the mounting mechanism 200, primarily to ensure the circumferential spacing of the direction indicators 300. The direction indicator 300 pointing north or south means that all direction indicators 300 are calibrated to geographic north or south. This can be achieved using permanent magnet orientation fixation or a preset direction using an electronic compass module, for example, fixing a magnetic needle so that its north pole points north, primarily to provide a consistent direction reference in drone imagery. Therefore, this application, through an integrated structural design, combines the fixed-pointing direction indicator 300 with the mounting mechanism 200, enabling the direction information to be directly displayed in the images captured by the UAV. This avoids the need for additional external direction indicator devices in traditional methods, solving the problem of low efficiency in determining the direction of gullies. Specifically, the connection position at the top of the connecting mechanism 100 ensures the stability of the device during flight, the direction indicator position layout at the bottom of the mounting mechanism 200 ensures that the indicator is always visible in the image regardless of the UAV's rotation, and the uniform pointing design of the direction indicator 300 enhances the reliability of direction recognition, thereby improving the efficiency of gully direction confirmation. It can be further clarified that the direction indicator is preferably a north-pointing compass or a south-pointing compass.

[0028] The connection point design allows the device to directly dock with the UAV's legs 30, avoiding swaying issues during flight. Furthermore, the directional indicator positions of the mounting mechanism 200 are distributed circumferentially, ensuring that at least one directional indicator 300 is always visible in the image regardless of the UAV's rotation angle, thus eliminating directional blind spots. The directional indicators 300 uniformly point north or south, enhancing the clarity and reliability of directional identification in the image and avoiding misjudgments caused by misalignment or confusion of indicator directions. As a preferred embodiment, the directional indicator 300 can be a small magnetic needle, fixedly installed at the directional indicator position and pre-calibrated to point north; alternatively, the directional indicator 300 can be a fixed-direction arrow mark, directly formed on the surface of the directional indicator position through an etching process.

[0029] Therefore, when the device is installed on a drone and acquires images, the direction indicator 300 directly presents directional reference information in the captured images. When analyzing gully images, operators can quickly determine the gully direction based on the direction indicator 300 without needing to use external direction indicator equipment. This application, through an integrated structural design, directly embeds the direction indicator function into the drone system, effectively avoiding the cumbersome steps of relying on external equipment in traditional methods, and significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of gully direction determination.

[0030] In this embodiment, by setting a connecting mechanism 100, an installation mechanism 200, and multiple direction indicators 300, in use, a connection position is formed at the top of the connecting mechanism 100, allowing the connection position to be connected to an external device. The installation mechanism 200 is installed at the bottom of the connecting mechanism 100, and multiple circumferentially spaced direction indicator positions are formed on the installation mechanism 200. A direction indicator 300 is installed at each direction indicator position. Thus, in use, the direction indicator device 40 of this utility model can be installed below the UAV, so that when the UAV performs photogrammetry on the gully, the image data collected will record north or south. This makes it easy for operators to directly confirm the direction of the gully from the collected image data without the need for operators to convert the image data. This ensures both the accuracy and efficiency of the gully direction determination.

[0031] In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism 100 includes a plurality of connecting components 110 and a plurality of connecting rods 120. The connecting components 110 form a connection position and can be detachably connected to an external device. The number of connecting rods 120 is the same as that of the connecting components 110 and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. The bottom of all connecting rods 120 is hinged to the mounting mechanism 200, and all connecting rods 120 are distributed circumferentially at intervals in the mounting mechanism 200.

[0032] Specifically, the solution of this application provides detachable connection points through multiple connecting components 110, enabling the direction indicator 40 to quickly adapt to different external devices; multiple connecting rods 120 are arranged one-to-one with the connecting components 110 to ensure precise distribution of force points and avoid stress concentration; the hinge structure between the bottom of the connecting rod 120 and the mounting mechanism 200 allows for automatic fine-tuning of the angle to compensate for tilting or vibration of the mounting surface; all connecting rods 120 are distributed circumferentially to form a ring support network, so that external loads are symmetrically distributed to each connection point. These features work together to significantly improve the adaptability and stability of the connecting mechanism 100 in dynamic environments, effectively suppressing device loosening or displacement caused by vibration or airflow disturbance.

[0033] Through the above solution, the direction indicator device 40 of this application can reliably fix the external equipment during installation, avoiding loosening caused by vibration, thereby improving the accuracy of direction indication and the reliability of gully direction judgment.

[0034] In one embodiment, the connecting assembly 110 includes a first engaging half-ring 111 and a second engaging half-ring 115. The first engaging half-ring 111 is connected to the connecting rod 120. The top of the first engaging half-ring 111 has a first half-ring groove 112 that can engage with an external device. The first engaging half-ring 111 has a first connecting position 113 and an engaging groove 114 that are relatively distributed at both ends of the first half-ring groove 112. The bottom of the second engaging half-ring 115 has a second half-ring groove 116 that can engage with an external device. The first half-ring groove 112 and the second half-ring groove 116 are concentrically arranged. The second engaging half-ring 115 has a second connecting position 117 and an engaging protrusion 118 that are relatively distributed at both ends of the second half-ring groove 116. The second connecting position 117 is hinged to the first connecting position 113, and the engaging protrusion 118 can engage with the engaging groove 114.

[0035] Specifically, the solution of this application uses the hinged engagement of the first connecting position 113 and the second connecting position 117 to enable the first snap-fit ​​half ring 111 and the second snap-fit ​​half ring 115 to rotate and open around a fixed axis, facilitating quick adaptation to external devices; the concentric arrangement of the first half ring groove 112 and the second half ring groove 116 ensures that the two half rings are automatically aligned during the closing process, eliminating the connection gap caused by misalignment; after the snap-fit ​​protrusion 118 is embedded in the snap-fit ​​groove 114, it forms a mechanical interlocking structure, generating radial locking force in the vibration environment of UAV flight, effectively suppressing the relative displacement between the half rings; at the same time, the fixed connection between the first snap-fit ​​half ring 111 and the connecting rod 120 transmits the vibration load to the mounting mechanism 200, avoiding local offset of the connection point from affecting the pointing reference of the direction indicator 300, thereby maintaining the pointing stability of the direction indicator 300 in a dynamic environment.

[0036] Through the above solution, this application effectively improves the structural stability of the connecting component 110 in a vibration environment, prevents loosening or misalignment between the direction indicator 40 and the external device, and ensures that the direction indicator 300 can continuously and accurately point to the north or south, thereby ensuring the reliability of gully direction judgment based on UAV imagery.

[0037] In one embodiment, a bolt hole is formed in the engaging groove 114, which extends vertically through the bolt. The connecting assembly 110 also includes a locking screw 11 and a locking member 12. The locking screw 11 is rotatably mounted on the engaging protrusion 118 and can pass through a bolt hole. The locking member 12 is threadedly engaged with the locking screw 11 and can lock the first engaging half ring 111 and the second engaging half ring 115.

[0038] Specifically, after the first engaging half-ring 111 and the second engaging half-ring 115 are initially engaged with the engaging groove 114 through the engaging protrusion 118, the locking screw 11 is configured to pass through the bolt hole. Since the locking screw 11 is rotatably mounted on the engaging protrusion 118, when the locking member 12 is rotated, the locking screw 11 remains fixed while the locking member 12 moves along the thread axis, applying a continuous tension to the first engaging half-ring 111, so that the two half-rings fit tightly together to eliminate minute gaps. This process forms a rigid connection through the helical propulsion principle of the thread, thereby effectively resisting external vibration and operational impact, and ensuring the stability of the connection assembly 110 in a dynamic environment.

[0039] Through the above technical solution, this application effectively prevents the connection component 110 from loosening under vibration or impact, ensures the reliable connection between the direction indicator device 40 and the external device, and significantly improves the accuracy of direction indication and the long-term operational stability of the device.

[0040] In one embodiment, the connecting rod 120 includes a first connecting segment 121, a second connecting segment 122, and a third connecting segment 123 connected in sequence. The first connecting segment 121 is threadedly engaged with the mounting mechanism 200 and is rotatably engaged with the second connecting segment 122. The third connecting segment 123 is threadedly engaged with the first snap-fit ​​half ring 111 and is rotatably engaged with the second connecting segment 122.

[0041] Specifically, the height displacement is achieved through the threaded engagement between the first connecting section 121 and the mounting mechanism 200. The horizontal rotational degree of freedom is formed by the rotational engagement between the first connecting section 121 and the second connecting section 122. The threaded engagement between the third connecting section 123 and the first snap-fit ​​half ring 111 ensures the connection stability and supports direction calibration. At the same time, the rotational engagement between the third connecting section 123 and the second connecting section 122 introduces an additional rotational degree of freedom, so that the connecting rod 120 forms a multi-dimensional adjustment mechanism in height, horizontal angle and pointing direction. This allows it to dynamically adapt to different terrain conditions during installation and ensures that the direction indicator 300 accurately points to the north or south.

[0042] The first connecting section 121 is made of stainless steel with a trapezoidal threaded rod, which is fitted with the threaded hole of the mounting mechanism 200. The first connecting section 121 and the second connecting section 122 are rotated together by a deep groove ball bearing. The outer ring of the bearing is fixed to the end of the first connecting section 121, and the inner ring is connected to the second connecting section 122. The third connecting section 123 is made of brass with an external threaded rod, which is threaded together with the internal threaded hole of the first engaging half ring 111. The third connecting section 123 and the second connecting section 122 are rotated together by a ball joint. The ball end is fixed to the second connecting section 122, and the ball seat end is connected to the third connecting section 123. The entire structure is treated with an anti-corrosion coating.

[0043] Through the above solution, this application achieves flexible adjustment of the connecting rod with more than 120 degrees of freedom during the installation of the direction indicator device 40, effectively overcoming the installation difficulties caused by rigid connection, ensuring that the direction indicator 300 can accurately point to the specified direction, thereby significantly improving the accuracy of gully direction judgment and work efficiency.

[0044] In one embodiment, the mounting mechanism 200 includes a plurality of mounting components 210 and a plurality of adjusting components 220. The plurality of mounting components 210 are distributed circumferentially and enclosed to form a circular mounting ring. All mounting components 210 can be connected to the connecting mechanism 100, and each mounting component 210 has a connection position. An adjusting component 220 is connected between any two adjacent mounting components 210. The adjusting component 220 can adjust the spacing between any two adjacent mounting components 210 so that the directional indicator 300 moves closer to or further away from the center of the mounting ring.

[0045] Specifically, multiple mounting components 210 are distributed circumferentially and form a circular mounting ring. Each mounting component 210 fixes the direction indicator 300 through a connection position to ensure the accuracy of the indicator's pointing. All mounting components 210 are connected to the connecting mechanism 100. Utilizing the hinge characteristics of the connecting mechanism 100, the overall rigidity of the mounting ring is maintained during UAV flight vibrations, preventing the direction indicator 300 from deviating from its preset position due to shaking. The adjustment component 220 is connected between any two adjacent mounting components 210. By changing its effective length or relative position, the spacing between adjacent mounting components 210 can be precisely adjusted. Since the mounting ring has a circular layout, uniform changes in spacing cause all mounting components 210 to move synchronously radially, while non-uniform changes enable independent radial adjustments of local direction indicators 300. This allows the direction indicator 300 to actively move closer to or further away from the center of the mounting ring according to the camera 20's perspective and the terrain, effectively avoiding obstruction from the outriggers 30 or ground obstacles.

[0046] Through the above technical solution, the direction indicator 300 can dynamically adjust its radial position according to the actual terrain and camera 20 perspective when the drone is shooting, effectively avoiding visual obstruction by the outrigger 30 structure or ground obstacles, and significantly improving the image clarity and geological judgment efficiency for confirming the direction of the gully.

[0047] In one embodiment, the mounting assembly 210 includes an arc-shaped frame segment 211, a mounting plate 212, and a protective cover 213. An installation channel extending along an arc and penetrating through the arc is formed on the arc-shaped frame segment 211. The arc-shaped frame segment 211 is connected to the connecting mechanism 100. The mounting plate 212 is mounted on the top of the arc-shaped frame segment 211. An installation groove is formed on the mounting plate 212. The direction indicator 300 can be snapped into the installation groove. The protective cover 213 is fastened to the mounting plate 212. The protective cover 213 is a transparent cover.

[0048] Specifically, the arc-shaped frame segment 211 achieves circumferential positioning and connection with the connecting mechanism 100 through its arc-extended mounting channel, enabling multiple mounting components 210 to precisely form a circular structure and evenly distribute the load. The mounting plate 212 is fixed to the top of the arc-shaped frame segment 211, and its mounting groove forms a radial constraint on the direction indicator 300. The snap-fit ​​mechanism automatically enhances the fixing effect during UAV vibration. The protective cover 213, after being fastened to the mounting plate 212, forms a closed protective cavity. The transparent material allows for visual recognition of the direction indicator information while preventing the intrusion of external contaminants. The three components form a hierarchical protection system: the arc-shaped frame segment 211 provides basic support and geometric matching, the mounting plate 212 achieves precise positioning and rapid installation, and the protective cover 213 completes environmental isolation, jointly ensuring the positional stability and information readability of the direction indicator 300 under dynamic operating conditions.

[0049] Through the above solution, the direction indicator 300 is effectively fixed during the flight of the UAV, avoiding loosening or displacement caused by vibration; at the same time, the protective cover 213 isolates dust and rainwater from the external environment, ensuring that the direction indicator information is clearly visible, thereby improving the accuracy of gully direction judgment and operational efficiency.

[0050] In one embodiment, the adjusting component 220 includes a first threaded connecting section 221, a threaded adjusting sleeve 222, and a second threaded connecting section 223. The first threaded connecting section 221 is connected to one of the arc-shaped frame segments 211, and the first threaded connecting section 221 extends out of the corresponding arc-shaped frame segment 211. The threaded adjusting sleeve 222 is threadedly engaged with the threaded connecting section. The second threaded connecting section 223 is installed on the other arc-shaped frame segment 211, and the second threaded connecting section 223 extends out of the corresponding arc-shaped frame segment 211. The second threaded connecting section 223 is threadedly engaged with the threaded adjusting sleeve 222. The threaded connecting sleeve can adjust the first threaded connecting section 221 and the second threaded connecting section 223 to move closer or further apart, thereby adjusting the distance between the first threaded connecting section 221 and the second threaded connecting section 223.

[0051] Specifically, the solution of this application utilizes the threaded engagement relationship between the threaded adjusting sleeve 222 and the first threaded connecting section 221 and the second threaded connecting section 223. When the threaded adjusting sleeve 222 is rotated, due to the helical motion characteristics of the thread, the first threaded connecting section 221 and the second threaded connecting section 223 generate synchronous relative displacement in the axial direction, thereby changing the distance between the two adjacent arc-shaped frame sections 211. This structural design utilizes the small pitch characteristics of the thread to achieve micro-step adjustment, avoiding the jumping or slippage phenomenon in traditional adjustment methods. At the same time, the self-locking characteristics of the thread ensure the stability of the position after adjustment, allowing the direction indicator 300 to continuously and controllably approach or move away from the center of the mounting ring.

[0052] The first threaded connection section 221 is specifically a stainless steel external threaded rod, one end of which is fixed to the side wall of an arc-shaped frame section 211 by threads and extends outwards; the threaded adjusting sleeve 222 is specifically a brass internal threaded sleeve, the internal thread of which matches the external thread of the first threaded connection section 221; the second threaded connection section 223 is specifically another stainless steel external threaded rod, one end of which is fixed to the side wall of an adjacent arc-shaped frame section 211 and extends outwards, and is threadedly engaged with the other end of the threaded adjusting sleeve 222; when the threaded adjusting sleeve 222 is rotated clockwise, the first threaded connection section 221 and the second threaded connection section 223 move closer to each other, reducing the distance between adjacent arc-shaped frame sections 211; when rotated counterclockwise, they move further apart, increasing the distance between them.

[0053] Through the above scheme, this application realizes the continuous and controllable adjustment of the distance between the direction indicator 300 and the center of the mounting ring, which improves the accuracy and reliability of the direction indicator and ensures the accuracy of the direction indicator when judging the direction of gullies in geological surveys.

[0054] Based on the same technical concept, in a second aspect, this utility model also proposes a drone, including a body 10, a camera 20, legs 30 and a direction indicator device 40 as described in the first aspect. The camera 20 and the legs 30 are installed at intervals on the bottom of the body 10. The bottom of the legs 30 extends downward beyond the camera 20. The direction indicator device 40 is installed on the legs 30 and is located below the camera 20.

[0055] In this embodiment, by integrating the direction indicator device 40 into the outrigger 30 and placing it below the camera 20, direction reference information is acquired synchronously during image acquisition. This avoids the cumbersome steps of relying on external direction indicator devices for direction confirmation in traditional methods, significantly improving the efficiency of gully direction determination. Specifically, this design ensures that the direction indicator device 40 works in conjunction with the camera 20 during UAV flight, allowing the captured images to directly embed direction markers. Operators can analyze gully topographic features without interrupting the process to call external devices or perform post-calibration, effectively solving the problems of inconsistent direction references and low operational efficiency caused by reliance on external devices.

[0056] Based on the same technical concept, in a third aspect, this utility model also proposes a gully direction confirmation system, including the drone of the first aspect.

[0057] In this embodiment, by integrating the direction indicator device 40 into the UAV leg 30 and optimizing its spatial layout, the direction indicator device 40 is positioned below the camera 20, and the bottom of the leg 30 extends downward beyond the camera 20. This ensures that the direction indicator device 40 is precisely positioned within the field of view of the camera 20 and fully displayed in the image during image acquisition. Specifically, this design avoids the need for external direction indicator devices in traditional methods. Operators can directly determine the gully direction based on the direction indicator information in the UAV-captured images without additional equipment switching or coordinate system calibration. Due to the integrated design of the direction indicator device 40 with the UAV structure, the image data includes a built-in direction reference during the acquisition phase, effectively overcoming the operational interruptions and spatial deviations caused by external devices. This significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of gully direction confirmation, providing reliable technical support for geological disaster assessment and ecological environmental protection.

[0058] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A direction indicating device, characterized in that, include: A connecting mechanism, wherein a connecting position is formed on the top of the connecting mechanism; The mounting mechanism is installed at the bottom of the connecting mechanism, and the mounting mechanism has a plurality of directional indicator positions distributed circumferentially. as well as Multiple direction indicators are provided, the number of which is consistent with the number of the direction indicator positions and they are installed in a one-to-one correspondence, and all of the direction indicators are configured to point to the north or south.

2. The direction indicating device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting mechanism includes: Multiple connecting components, the connecting components forming the connecting positions, the connecting components being detachably connectable to an external device; and... Multiple connecting rods are provided, the number of which is the same as that of the connecting components and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. The bottom of all the connecting rods is hinged to the mounting mechanism, and all the connecting rods are distributed circumferentially at intervals in the mounting mechanism.

3. The direction indicating device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The connection component includes: A first engaging half-ring, connected to the connecting rod, has a first half-ring groove formed at its top for engaging with the external device, and first connecting positions and engaging grooves relatively distributed at both ends of the first half-ring groove; and... The second snap-fit ​​half-ring has a second half-ring groove formed at its bottom that can snap with the external device. The first half-ring groove and the second half-ring groove are concentrically arranged. The second snap-fit ​​half-ring has a second connecting position and a snap-fit ​​protrusion that are relatively distributed at both ends of the second half-ring groove. The second connecting position is hinged to the first connecting position, and the snap-fit ​​protrusion can snap with the snap-fit ​​groove.

4. The direction indicating device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The fastening groove has a bolt hole that extends vertically through it; The connection component also includes: A locking screw, rotatably mounted to the engaging protrusion, the locking screw passing through the bolt hole; and... A locking component, which is threadedly engaged with the locking screw and can lock the first and second locking half rings.

5. The direction indicating device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The connecting rod includes a first connecting segment, a second connecting segment, and a third connecting segment connected in sequence. The first connecting segment is threadedly engaged with the mounting mechanism and rotatably engaged with the second connecting segment. The third connecting segment is threadedly engaged with the first snap-fit ​​semi-circular ring and rotatably engaged with the second connecting segment.

6. The direction indicating device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The installation mechanism includes: Multiple mounting components are distributed circumferentially and enclosed to form a circular mounting ring. All mounting components can be connected to the connecting mechanism, and each mounting component has a connection position. Multiple adjustment components are provided, with one adjustment component connected between any two adjacent mounting components. The adjustment components enable the spacing between any two adjacent mounting components to move any direction indicator closer to or further away from the center of the mounting ring.

7. The direction indicating device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, The installation components include: An arc-shaped frame segment, on which an installation channel is formed extending along an arc and penetrating through, is connected to the connecting mechanism; A mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is mounted on the top of the arc-shaped frame segment, and a mounting groove is formed on the mounting plate, into which the direction indicator can be engaged; and, A protective cover, which is fastened to the mounting plate, is a transparent cover.

8. The direction indicating device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The adjustment component includes: A first threaded connection segment, wherein one of the arc-shaped frame segments of the first threaded connection segment is connected, and the first threaded connection segment extends out of the corresponding arc-shaped frame segment; A threaded adjusting sleeve, wherein the threaded adjusting sleeve is threadedly engaged with the first threaded connecting section; and... The second threaded connection segment is installed on another arc-shaped frame segment, and the second threaded connection segment extends out of the corresponding arc-shaped frame segment. The second threaded connection segment is threadedly engaged with the threaded adjusting sleeve. The threaded adjusting sleeve can adjust the first threaded connection segment and the second threaded connection segment to move closer or further apart from each other, so as to adjust the distance between the first threaded connection segment and the second threaded connection segment.

9. A drone, characterized in that, include: Organism; Camera; The camera and the support leg are mounted at a distance from each other at the bottom of the body, and the bottom of the support leg extends downward beyond the camera; as well as, The direction indicator device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the direction indicator device is mounted on the support leg and is located below the camera.

10. A gully orientation confirmation system, characterized in that, Including the drone as described in claim 9.

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