Drone Vision Navigation Transition From Face Tracking to SLAM

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous drones face challenges in transitioning from initial takeoff navigation to stable vision-based navigation due to size and power constraints, requiring efficient control and safe operation.

Innovation Solution

The drone initiates navigation by capturing an image of a face or person, stabilizing, and then transitions to vision-based navigation using visual odometry or Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) after collecting sufficient image and sensor data, ensuring safe flight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the drone uses vision-based navigation from the start, then navigation accuracy is improved, but the system becomes unreliable during takeoff and initial flight phases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation system is divided into two distinct modules: a first navigation module for takeoff and initial flight that uses alternative navigation methods, and a second navigation module for stable flight that uses vision-based navigation. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific operational phase, ensuring reliability during takeoff while achieving high accuracy during stable flight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between navigation modules based on flight stability. A determination module assesses whether the drone has achieved stable flight, and based on this assessment, activates the appropriate navigation module. This dynamic adaptation ensures the system uses the most suitable navigation approach for current flight conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the drone collects sufficient image and sensor data for vision-based navigation, then navigation reliability is improved, but the time required for navigation setup increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation reliabilityVSAvoidnavigation setup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data collection during the initial flight phase using the first navigation module. Image and sensor data are gathered and stored in advance, so that when stable flight is achieved, the second navigation module can immediately utilize this pre-collected data without requiring additional time for data acquisition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Data collection continues throughout the flight process rather than being a separate preparatory step. The first navigation module collects data during takeoff and initial flight, and this data collection seamlessly transitions to the second navigation module once stable flight is achieved, ensuring continuous useful action without interruption or time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250216857A1Autonomous drone navigation based on vision
Publication Date: 2025.07.03 SNAP INC
  • US20250216857A1 patent drawing
  • US20250216857A1 patent drawing
  • US20250216857A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems, computer readable medium and methods for autonomous drone navigation based on vision are disclosed. Example methods include capturing an image using an image capturing device of the autonomous drone, processing the image to identify an object, and navigating the autonomous drone relative to the object for a period of time. After the period of time a second type of navigation is used based on determining structure from motion navigation. Images are captured during the period of time to transition to the second type of navigation. The second type of navigation uses a downward pointing navigation camera and other sensors.