Camera-Based Runway Identification for GPS-Denied Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional runway identification systems rely heavily on GPS, which can be unreliable due to signal distortion, jamming, or outages, leading to frequent incidents of landing on the wrong runway.
Innovation Solution
A computing system utilizing onboard cameras and a runway database to identify runways through image processing and feature extraction, independent of GPS, by capturing and analyzing visual and non-visual electromagnetic spectra images to match runway features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based runway identification systems are used, then navigation accuracy is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to signal distortion, jamming, or outages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual feature extraction from camera images as an intermediary method to identify runways. Instead of relying directly on GPS signals, the system captures images of the runway environment, extracts visual features (such as runway markings, lighting, geometry), and matches these features against a database of known runway characteristics. This intermediary visual recognition process provides a reliable alternative when GPS signals are distorted, jammed, or unavailable, thereby resolving the contradiction between navigation accuracy and system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS-based electromagnetic signal system with a visual-mechanical recognition system. By substituting the reliance on external GPS signals with onboard camera-based visual feature extraction and matching, the system eliminates vulnerability to GPS signal interference while maintaining runway identification accuracy through image processing and feature comparison algorithms.
2Reliability
If visual feature extraction and image processing are used for runway identification, then system reliability is improved by eliminating GPS dependency, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pre-established runway feature database that stores standardized visual characteristics of multiple runways. This universal database can be queried and matched against real-time camera images regardless of the specific runway location or conditions. The feature extraction algorithms are designed to identify universal runway elements (markings, lighting patterns, geometric configurations) that apply across different airports, thereby managing complexity through standardized processing while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-capturing and storing runway feature data during normal operations and before potential GPS failures. The runway feature database is populated in advance with visual characteristics of known runways, and the system continuously monitors and updates these features. This preliminary preparation ensures that when GPS signals fail, the system can immediately switch to using pre-stored feature data for reliable runway identification without requiring complex real-time computation under stress.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A computing system for runway identification is provided. The computing system comprises one or a plurality of cameras, processing circuitry, and memory storing a runway database and executable instructions. The processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to collect a plurality of images related to at least an environment from the one or the plurality of cameras, execute a feature extractor to extract features for the plurality of images, generate a runway identification at least based on the extracted features by matching the extracted features with known runway features of a known runway in the runway database, and output the runway identification.