Air Vehicle Target Tracking via Visual Reference Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional GPS-based target tracking systems for air vehicles face accuracy issues in areas with high-rise structures or mountains, where satellite signal strength is low, leading to tracking failures due to reliance on satellite signals.
Innovation Solution
A target tracking method for air vehicles that uses a camera to capture images of reference and temporary targets, extracts image characteristics, and adjusts the air vehicle's motion and camera angles to maintain target tracking by comparing these characteristics, allowing for accurate tracking independent of GPS signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based positioning is used for target tracking, then global positioning and navigation services are provided, but positioning accuracy deteriorates in areas with high-rises or mountains where satellite signal strength is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary object (reference target with distinctive characteristics) between the GPS system and the tracking process. This reference target serves as a mediator that provides visual identification and position verification, allowing the system to cross-validate GPS data with visual confirmation, thereby maintaining tracking reliability and positioning accuracy in areas with poor satellite signal coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent partially replaces the GPS satellite-based positioning mechanism with a visual recognition system using cameras and image processing. By substituting the reliance on electromagnetic satellite signals with optical image capture and characteristic matching, the system achieves accurate target identification and tracking in environments where GPS signals are weak or blocked by high-rises and mountains
2Measurement precision
If the air vehicle adjusts motion and camera angles based on image characteristics, then tracking accuracy is enhanced, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by using the camera system for multiple purposes: capturing reference images for characteristic extraction, performing real-time target recognition, measuring target scale for distance estimation, and providing visual feedback for position correction. This universal use of the camera system enhances tracking accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one component serves multiple critical functions in the tracking process
Data Source
AI summary
A target tracking method for an air vehicle includes steps of: during a flight of an air vehicle main body to a position corresponding to a global positioning system (GPS) positioning signal, taking pictures of an area where a reference target is located by a camera, and obtaining a reference image; extracting reference image characteristics of the reference target and initial position information of the reference target in the reference image from the reference image; when the camera obtains a temporary image showing a temporary target, extracting temporary image characteristics of the temporary target and temporary position information of the temporary target in the temporary image from the temporary image; if the reference image characteristics are consistent with the temporary image characteristics, calculating a deviation direction according to a difference between the initial position information and the temporary position information; and tracking the temporary target in the deviation direction.