Dual-Light Camera Target Tracking for Low-Light Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current target tracking methods fail to accurately recognize and track objects in images produced by certain shooting devices, particularly those using thermal infrared imaging, due to insufficient texture information, leading to poor tracking performance.

Innovation Solution

A target tracking method utilizing a dual-light camera system where a thermal infrared shooting device is paired with a visible light shooting device, allowing the system to adjust its attitude based on the tracking position area in the visible light image to maintain the target within the thermal infrared frame, even if the target cannot be accurately recognized in the thermal infrared image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If thermal infrared shooting device is used for target tracking, then the shooting device can operate in low-light or no-light conditions, but the target object cannot be accurately recognized due to insufficient texture information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshooting capability in low-light conditionsVSAvoidtarget recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a thermal infrared shooting device and a visible light shooting device into a unified shooting system. The thermal infrared device provides low-light capability while the visible light device provides texture information for accurate recognition. The system merges the strengths of both devices to achieve both low-light operation and accurate target recognition simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If visible light shooting device is used for target tracking, then the target object can be accurately recognized due to rich feature information, but the shooting device cannot operate in low-light or no-light conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget recognition accuracyVSAvoidshooting capability in low-light conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the visible light shooting device with the thermal infrared shooting device in a dual-mode system. The visible light device ensures accurate target recognition when lighting conditions permit, while the thermal infrared device takes over in low-light conditions. The system dynamically switches or combines modes based on environmental lighting conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If single shooting device is used, then the device structure is simple, but the tracking performance is poor when target cannot be recognized in the image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshooting device structureVSAvoidtracking performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-functional shooting device that can operate in both thermal infrared mode and visible light mode. This universal device can adapt to different environmental conditions and target types, ensuring reliable tracking performance whether the target is visible in thermal or visible spectrum. The system selects the appropriate imaging mode based on the specific tracking requirements and environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables accurate tracking of targets despite insufficient texture information in thermal infrared images by leveraging the detailed information from visible light images to adjust the shooting device's attitude, ensuring the target remains within the thermal infrared frame, thereby improving tracking performance and practicality.

Implementation Method 1

a first shooting assembly and a second shooting assembly having different imaging modes... the first shooting assembly... thermal infrared shooting device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

the second shooting assembly... visible light shooting device... image captured by the visible light shooting device has rich feature information

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3771198B1Target tracking method and device, movable platform and storage medium
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 SZ DJI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3771198B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3771198B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3771198B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a target tracking method and device, a movable platform, and a storage medium. The method is applicable to the movable platform. The movable platform includes a shooting device. The shooting device include a first shooting assembly and a second shooting assembly. The method includes calling the second shooting assembly to shoot an environment to obtain a second image, performing target object recognition on the second image to obtain a tracking position area of the target object to be tracked in the second image, and adjusting a shooting attitude of the shooting device according to the tracking position area of the target object in the second image, such that the target object is located in a shooting frame of the first shooting assembly.