Aircraft Navigation by Optical Border Detection in Low Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous navigation systems for aircraft are time-intensive, computationally demanding, and less reliable in inclement weather or low light conditions, necessitating more efficient and environmentally resilient navigation methods.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system for aircraft equipped with a light source, light sensor, and processors that illuminate a surface, detect reflected light, and generate data mapping light intensities to positions, identifying borders to guide navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visible light cameras are used to capture and analyze images pixel by pixel to identify runways or taxiways, then navigation can be achieved, but the process becomes very time intensive and computationally demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential navigation information (border positions) from the environment rather than processing complete images. The light sensor array captures reflected light patterns that directly encode runway border locations, eliminating the need for comprehensive image capture and pixel-by-pixel analysis. This extraction approach achieves reliable navigation while dramatically reducing computational time and resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/computational image processing system with an optical detection system. Instead of using cameras to capture images and processors to analyze pixels, the system uses light sensor arrays that directly detect reflected light patterns from runway borders. This substitution transforms a computationally intensive mechanical process into a more efficient optical measurement process.
2Reliability
If visible light cameras are used to capture images for navigation, then navigation can be achieved, but the system becomes computationally demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the critical navigation data (border positions) through specialized optical sensing rather than capturing complete visual information. The light sensor array is configured to detect reflected light patterns that directly indicate runway borders, eliminating the need for complex image processing algorithms and reducing computational complexity while maintaining navigation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the complex computational image processing mechanism with a simpler optical detection mechanism. The light sensor array directly measures reflected light intensity patterns that encode border positions, replacing the need for cameras, image capture hardware, and sophisticated software algorithms with a more computationally efficient optical sensing approach.
3Productivity
If visible light cameras are used for navigation, then navigation can be achieved, but the system becomes less reliable in inclement weather such as rain or snow or in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the navigation system by using active light illumination instead of passive visible light capture. The system emits controlled light at specific intensities and wavelengths, then measures reflected light patterns. This parameter change makes navigation independent of ambient lighting conditions and weather, maintaining both efficiency and reliability in environments where camera-based systems fail.
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
Improves navigation efficiency and reliability in various weather conditions by efficiently distinguishing paved from unpaved surfaces, reducing computational load and enhancing performance in low light conditions.
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.