Aerial Vehicle Onboard Light Mapping for Landing Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved systems and methods to facilitate safe, efficient, and reliable environment mapping by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to enable safe operations during takeoff, landing, delivery, and other operations.
Innovation Solution
UAVs utilize onboard light sources and imaging devices to emit and capture structured light for surface detection and mapping, leveraging both onboard and external light sources to enhance detection and mapping capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If UAVs use onboard light sources and imaging devices for environment mapping, then surface detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing onboard light sources (landing lights, navigation lights, anti-collision lights) perform dual functions: their original safety/navigation functions plus new environment mapping functions. The imaging devices similarly serve both collision avoidance and surface mapping purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated mapping equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV uses its own onboard light sources to illuminate the environment for mapping purposes, rather than relying on external light sources. The system is self-sufficient by leveraging already-present components (light sources and imaging devices) to perform the additional function of environment mapping without requiring external infrastructure.
2Reliability
If multiple light sources are used for environment mapping, then mapping reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light sources (landing lights, navigation lights, anti-collision lights) are made to serve dual purposes: their original safety and navigation functions plus environment mapping illumination. This approach achieves reliable multi-source illumination for mapping without adding dedicated mapping light sources, thereby avoiding excessive energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers and repurposes the illumination capability of existing light sources that would otherwise only serve safety functions. By utilizing already-powered light sources for dual purposes, the system avoids the energy cost of adding new dedicated mapping lighting while still achieving the reliability benefits of multiple illumination sources.
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
The system enables accurate and reliable detection and mapping of surfaces, improving safety and efficiency during UAV operations such as landing and delivery by generating detailed surface models.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources onboard the aerial vehicle may be instructed to emit light having various attributes toward one or more surfaces
Implementation Method 2
one or more imaging devices onboard the aerial vehicle may be instructed to capture imaging data of the emitted light upon one or more surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for environment mapping by aerial vehicles may comprise emitting light having various attributes from one or more light sources, capturing imaging data of the emitted light upon one or more surfaces within an environment using one or more imaging devices, and processing the imaging data to determine surface geometries of the surfaces. The light sources and imaging devices may be onboard the aerial vehicle and may perform various functions during horizontal flight operations, but the light sources and imaging devices may be leveraged to perform environment mapping functions during vertical flight operations. Further, the aerial vehicle may communicate with and leverage additional light sources external to the aerial vehicle in order to further facilitate accurate and reliable environment mapping of surfaces within an environment, e.g., during landing and/or delivery operations.