Aircraft Navigation Using Active Border Detection in Low Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous navigation systems for aircraft are inefficient and unreliable, especially in inclement weather or low light conditions, as they rely on time-intensive and computationally demanding pixel analysis of visible light cameras.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system for aircraft that includes a light source, a light sensor, one or more processors, and a computer readable medium, which illuminates a surface, detects the reflected light, generates data mapping light intensities to surface positions, identifies border data, and navigates the aircraft based on border positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visible light cameras are used to capture and analyze pixel data for navigation, then the system can identify runways and taxiways, but the process becomes very time intensive and computationally demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of visible light cameras with an active illumination system using lasers or other light sources. Instead of passively capturing visible light and analyzing pixels, the system actively illuminates the surface and detects reflected light patterns, particularly focusing on border identification through intensity mapping. This substitution fundamentally changes the detection mechanism from computational image analysis to optical intensity measurement, dramatically reducing computational demands and processing time.
2Reliability
If visible light cameras are used for navigation, then the system can capture images of the surface, but reliability decreases in inclement weather such as rain or snow or in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by actively illuminating the surface before detection is needed. The active light source ensures that sufficient light is available for detection regardless of ambient lighting conditions. This preliminary illumination action eliminates the system's vulnerability to low light conditions and ensures consistent detection performance across varying environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The active illumination system provides preliminary anti-action against the harmful effects of inclement weather and low light conditions. By introducing a controlled light source that actively illuminates the target surface, the system counteracts the detrimental effects of rain, snow, and darkness that would otherwise degrade passive camera performance. The active lighting creates a controlled optical environment that is independent of external weather 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 solution improves response time and computational efficiency compared to conventional systems, and enhances performance in adverse weather and low light conditions by providing a more reliable and environmentally resilient navigation method.
Implementation Method 1
illuminating a surface using the light source to cause light to be reflected from the surface
Implementation Method 2
detecting the light and generating data representing the light using the light sensor, wherein the data maps intensities of the light to respective positions on the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation system for an aircraft includes a light source, a light sensor, one or more processors, and a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the navigation system to perform functions. The functions include illuminating a surface using the light source to cause light to be reflected from the surface and detecting the light and generating data representing the light using the light sensor. The data maps intensities of the light to respective positions on the surface. The functions further include identifying within the data a subset of the data that corresponds to a border and causing navigation of the aircraft based on a position of the border indicated by the subset of the data.