Aircraft Target Tracking With High-Low Altitude Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircrafts face challenges in accurately identifying and tracking target objects due to limitations in camera pixels and processor performance, leading to difficulties in balancing flying height for clear images and detailed features, resulting in either loss of object detail or inaccurate identification.

Innovation Solution

A method and system involving two aircrafts, where one aircraft tracks the target at a high altitude using overall outline features and the other identifies at a low altitude using detail features, with both adjusting their positions based on location information to maintain clear images and accurate identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the aircraft reduces flying height to get close to the target object for photographing, then detail features can be identified, but the photographing area becomes small and the target object can easily get lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetail feature identificationVSAvoidphotographing area
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the tracking and identification task into two segments: one aircraft (first aircraft) operates at high altitude to maintain a large photographing area and track the target object, while another aircraft (second aircraft) operates at low altitude to capture detail features. This segmentation allows both large area coverage and detailed feature identification to be achieved simultaneously by different aircraft performing specialized functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the aircraft raises flying height to get away from the target object for photographing, then the target object can be well positioned and tracked, but detail features are sacrificed and identification accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotographing areaVSAvoiddetail feature identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the observation function into two altitude levels performed by different aircraft. The first aircraft at high altitude provides wide-area coverage and tracking, while the second aircraft at low altitude provides detailed feature capture. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each aircraft to optimize for its specific altitude's advantages without compromising the other function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the capabilities of multiple aircraft into a coordinated system. By combining the tracking function of the high-altitude first aircraft with the detailed identification function of the low-altitude second aircraft, the system achieves both large photographing area and high measurement precision simultaneously, which would be impossible for a single aircraft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single aircraft is used for both tracking and identification, then device complexity is reduced, but it cannot simultaneously maintain both tracking accuracy and identification accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of aircraftVSAvoidtracking and identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into specialized components: one aircraft dedicated to tracking and another dedicated to identification. This segmentation improves reliability by allowing each aircraft to optimize its performance for its specific function, even though it increases device complexity. The tracking aircraft maintains accurate position and movement data, while the identification aircraft captures detailed features, and both functions are more reliable than a single aircraft attempting both.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3444688B1Method and system for tracking and identification, and aircraft
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 AUTEL ROBOTICS CO LTD
  • EP3444688B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3444688B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3444688B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Disclosed are a tracking and identification method and system and an aircraft. The method includes: obtaining, by a first aircraft, a first feature parameter of a target object; if image data captured by the first aircraft does not match the first feature parameter, adjusting the first aircraft to a predetermined high-altitude area relative to the target object according to location information of a second aircraft that is sent by the second aircraft or location information of the target object, where the second aircraft is in a predetermined low-altitude area relative to the target object, and image data captured by the second aircraft matches a second feature parameter of the target object. The first aircraft in the predetermined high-altitude area and the second aircraft in the predetermined low-altitude area in embodiments of the present invention form high-low altitude cooperation and are respectively configured to track and identify the target object, thereby implementing transfer of location information between two or more aircrafts as well as tracking and identifying the target object.