Aerial Sensor Measurement with Propeller Pause to Cut Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial vehicles equipped with propellers and motors experience vibrations during flight, which negatively affect sensor measurements by causing motion blur, noise, and inaccurate data collection due to the vibrations and aerodynamic interactions.
Innovation Solution
A method where the motors of the aerial vehicle are selectively turned off or slowed down to allow sensors to take measurements without the interference of propeller vibrations, using a controller to manage the propeller speed and vehicle altitude to minimize vibration impact during data capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the propellers are driven by motors to enable flight, then the aerial vehicle can fly and reach desired positions, but vibrations are generated that negatively affect sensor measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is configured to turn off the motors before the sensor takes a measurement. This preliminary action of stopping the motors eliminates the vibration source before measurement begins, ensuring high measurement precision while maintaining flight capability during non-measurement periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system alternates between flight mode (motors on) and measurement mode (motors off). This periodic switching allows the aerial vehicle to achieve both flight capability and accurate measurements at different time intervals, resolving the contradiction between continuous flight and continuous measurement
2Productivity
If the sensor is operated during flight to capture measurements, then data collection is continuous, but vibrations cause motion blur and noise in the captured data
Solution Approach 1:
The controller turns off the motors before the sensor operates, preparing a vibration-free environment in advance. This ensures that when the sensor captures data, no motion blur or vibration-induced noise occurs, maintaining high measurement quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operational cycles by quickly switching between flight and measurement modes. The useful actions (flight and measurement) continue alternately, maximizing overall productivity while ensuring each measurement phase occurs under optimal vibration-free conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces noise and motion blur in sensor data, enabling higher signal-to-noise ratios and more accurate measurements, particularly for imaging sensors and 3D scanning, by minimizing the impact of propeller vibrations during data acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
the propellers rotate to generate a thrust force which enables the aerial vehicle to fly
Implementation Method 2
a 'Jello effect' can occur due to the rolling shutter interacting with vibrations of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention there is provided a method of taking a measurement using a sensor mounted on an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle having one or more propellers and one or more motors which are selectively operable to drive the one or more propellers to rotate to cause the vehicle to fly, and a sensor mounted on the aerial vehicle, the method comprising the steps of, operating the one or more motors to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly; at a first time instant, slowing down or turning off said one or more motors; while the one or more motors are slowed down or turned off, taking a measurement using said sensor; at a second time instant, which is after the measurement has been taken using the sensor, operating the one or more motors again to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly. There is further provided a corresponding aerial vehicle.