Camera System Position Determination Without GPS
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for determining the position of an aircraft are inefficient and inaccurate, particularly in environments where global positioning system and radio navigation system signals are unavailable or blocked, leading to reduced operational efficiency and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using a camera system to generate images of the environment, identifying features and shifts in perspective to calculate the position of the aircraft, allowing for accurate determination of location and orientation without relying on GPS or radio navigation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS and radio navigation systems are used to determine aircraft position, then position determination capability is provided, but system weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional radio-based navigation systems (GPS, VOR, ILS) with an optical vision-based system. The camera system captures images and processes visual features to determine aircraft position, substituting electromagnetic signal-based navigation with optical field-based navigation. This eliminates the need for heavy radio receivers and associated hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual map of the environment by capturing images and extracting feature points. This visual map serves as a copy of the physical environment that can be processed computationally to determine position, replacing the need for direct radio signal reception and processing.
2Reliability
If traditional navigation systems are used, then position determination is possible, but operation is affected when signals are blocked or unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual features in the environment as intermediaries for position determination. Instead of relying on satellite or ground-based radio signals, the system uses visual landmarks and features captured by the camera as mediators to calculate aircraft position through image processing and feature matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the aircraft's own camera to capture images of the environment, making the aircraft self-sufficient for navigation. The aircraft determines its position by processing images it captures itself, without needing external signal infrastructure, enabling operation in signal-denied environments.
3Measurement precision
If complex navigation hardware is installed, then position determination accuracy is improved, but system complexity and intrusiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of navigation from complex traditional systems. By using a simple camera to capture images and processing visual features computationally, it eliminates unnecessary radio receivers, antennas, and associated complex hardware while maintaining position determination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameter for navigation from radio signal frequency and amplitude to visual image parameters such as feature point coordinates and image geometry. This parameter transformation enables position determination using optical fields instead of electromagnetic radio waves.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a platform. Features are identified in a series of images generated by a camera system associated with the platform while the platform is moving. A shift in a perspective of the camera system is identified from a shift in a position of the features in the series of images. A change in the position of the platform is identified based on the shift in the perspective.