Far-Point Vision Guidance for Satellite Navigation Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current GPS-based guidance systems face challenges in providing accurate navigation when obstructed by heavy foliage or permanent obstructions, leading to errors due to signal loss and increasing location drift in IMUs and TCUs.
Innovation Solution
A satellite-based guidance system that captures images, isolates far-point pixelized data, and uses an algorithm to generate steering corrections for maintaining a vehicle on a straight-line path, combining this data with satellite-based navigation and IMU/TCU data for continuous guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based guidance systems are used for navigation, then navigation accuracy is improved, but the system fails when satellite signals are obstructed by heavy foliage or permanent obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines satellite-based GPS navigation with vision-based far-point guidance systems. The GPS receiver provides location data while the camera captures images of distant reference points, and an algorithm processes both data sources together to generate steering commands. This merging allows the system to maintain reliability when GPS signals are obstructed by using visual cues from far-point features that remain visible through foliage and obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The vision recognition system acts as an intermediary between the GPS receiver and the steering control system. When GPS signals are blocked, the camera captures images of far-point reference features, the algorithm identifies these features and calculates position based on their visual appearance, and this visual position data serves as a mediator to generate steering corrections without requiring direct GPS signal input.
2Reliability
If IMUs or TCUs are used to provide guidance under GPS-obstructed conditions, then guidance capability is maintained, but drift errors increase over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing the vehicle's actual position (determined from far-point feature recognition) with the desired path position. The algorithm generates steering error signals based on this comparison and feeds them back to the steering control system. This closed-loop feedback prevents drift accumulation by constantly correcting the vehicle's position relative to the visual far-point reference, rather than relying on open-loop integration of accelerometer data that drifts over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical inertial measurement system (IMU/TCU) with an optical vision-based positioning system. Instead of using accelerometers and gyroscopes that accumulate drift errors through mechanical integration, the system uses a camera to optically track far-point reference features and determines position directly from visual data, eliminating the drift problem inherent in mechanical inertial systems.
3Reliability
If vision recognition augmentation is added to the satellite-based navigation system, then reliability under obstruction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The far-point vision recognition system serves multiple functions: it provides navigation guidance when GPS is available, maintains guidance when GPS is obstructed, and prevents drift without requiring separate correction systems. The same camera and algorithm process both GPS-augmented navigation and pure vision-based navigation, eliminating the need for separate IMU/TCU systems and reducing overall system complexity despite adding vision capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a method for providing guidance towards a far-point position for a vehicle implementing a satellite-based guidance system. The method includes capturing an image. The method further includes providing the image in a digital format to an algorithm. The method further includes isolating far-point pixelized data of the provided image. The method further includes generating data for causing a steering control system of the vehicle implementing the satellite-based guidance system to maintain the vehicle on a straight-line path towards the far-point position.