Dual-Drone Shadow Imaging for Road Level Difference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned flying vehicles struggle to accurately detect level differences in road surfaces due to varying outdoor weather conditions, which affect image capturing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising two flying vehicles, where one captures images and the other emits light to create a shadow at the suspected level difference, with the control unit adjusting image and light directions based on sunlight conditions to ensure accurate shadow capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an image capturing apparatus is mounted on an unmanned flying vehicle to inspect road surfaces, then the inspection can be performed in outdoor environments, but the detection accuracy of level differences deteriorates due to varying weather conditions and image capturing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light emitting apparatus as an intermediary device that actively illuminates the road surface. This mediator compensates for insufficient or variable natural sunlight, ensuring consistent lighting conditions for the image capturing apparatus regardless of weather conditions, thereby maintaining detection accuracy in outdoor environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the lighting parameter by switching from passive reliance on natural sunlight to active illumination using the light emitting apparatus. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to varying sunlight conditions and maintain consistent image quality for level difference detection
2Measurement precision
If the first flying vehicle captures images and the second flying vehicle emits light to create shadows, then level difference detection accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases due to coordination requirements between multiple vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the image capturing function and light emitting function into a coordinated multi-vehicle system. By merging these functions across separate vehicles under unified control, the system achieves enhanced detection capability through shadow creation while managing complexity through integrated control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the detection function into two separate vehicles: one dedicated to image capturing and another to light emission. This segmentation allows each vehicle to be optimized for its specific function while the control unit coordinates their operations to achieve the shadow effect for enhanced level difference detection
3Measurement precision
If the control unit adjusts image capturing and light emission directions based on sunlight conditions, then detection accuracy is maintained under varying weather, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements feedback by monitoring sunlight conditions and dynamically adjusting the light emitting direction and image capturing direction accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the shadow creation geometry is optimized for level difference detection regardless of varying sunlight conditions, maintaining detection accuracy through adaptive control
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
This method allows for more accurate detection of level differences in road surfaces by controlling the relationship between image capturing and light emission directions, even under varying sunlight conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the second flying vehicle emitting light onto the surface
Implementation Method 2
have a relationship that causes, when the level difference exists, a shadow to occur at the spot and the shadow to be captured
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a control unit that controls a first flying vehicle and a second flying vehicle. The first flying vehicle captures an image of a surface of a road. The second flying vehicle emits light onto the surface, such that a spot where a level difference is estimated, in advance, to occur on the surface, an image capturing direction in which the first flying vehicle captures an image of the spot, and a light emitting direction in which the second flying vehicle emits the light onto the spot have a relationship that causes, when the level difference exists, a shadow to occur at the spot and the shadow to be captured.