Indoor UAV Mesh Housing With LIDAR for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in accurately determining altitude and navigating indoor spaces due to GPS inaccuracy and limited altitude sensing, leading to potential collisions with obstacles and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
Aerial vehicles with lightweight, low-profile housings equipped with LIDAR, time-of-flight sensors, cameras, and other imaging devices for precise indoor navigation, along with foldable propellers and landing pegs for safe operation and landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS receivers and altimeters are used for position determination, then outdoor navigation is effective, but indoor position accuracy deteriorates to within 2-5 meters which is insufficient for indoor spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces time-of-flight sensors and LIDAR as intermediary devices between the UAV and indoor environment. These sensors emit light pulses and measure the time for reflections to return, enabling precise distance measurements to walls, ceilings, and floors without relying on GPS or pressure-based altimeters that fail indoors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical systems (GPS satellites, pressure-based altimeters) with optical systems (time-of-flight sensors, LIDAR, cameras). This substitution allows the UAV to achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy indoors by measuring light travel time and analyzing visual features, overcoming the fundamental limitations of outdoor-based systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If UAVs operate at maximum speeds with wide course changes, then outdoor obstacle avoidance is effective, but indoor navigation requires tight turns and reduced speeds which limits operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by using time-of-flight sensors and LIDAR to continuously scan and map the indoor environment ahead of the UAV's path. This advance detection of walls, ceilings, and obstacles allows the flight control system to plan and execute appropriate maneuvering in advance, enabling safer operation at higher speeds without last-minute emergency corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where cameras and imaging devices continuously monitor the indoor environment and provide real-time visual information to the flight control system. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of speed and course, allowing the UAV to maintain higher productivity while automatically adapting to narrow hallways and confined spaces through continuous environmental assessment.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard housings are used for aerial vehicles, then manufacturing is simplified, but safe indoor operation requiring precise sensor integration and protection mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing structure with sensor integration by designing the housing to incorporate mounting features, protective elements, and alignment mechanisms for time-of-flight sensors, LIDAR, and cameras. This integration reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps, making the complex sensor system more manufacturable while maintaining precise positioning capabilities.
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 safe and precise indoor navigation by providing accurate distance measurements and obstacle avoidance, reducing the risk of collisions and enhancing operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
LIDAR (or light detection and ranging) sensors
Implementation Method 2
time-of-flight sensors
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of chambers, viz., a first chamber 135-1 and a second chamber 135-2, for accommodating one or more other sensors, control systems, processors, circuitry or other components
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial vehicle configured for operation within indoor spaces has a meshed construction with a housing defined by upper and lower sections having meshes provided above and below propellers and motors of the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle also includes a suite of sensors such as LIDAR sensors, time-of-flight sensors, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, or others. Meshes of the upper and lower sections include central openings along with spokes and concentric rings provided about the central openings. Meshes of the lower section have substantially larger central openings than meshes of the upper section, but feature more dense spokes or concentric rings beneath tips of the rotating propellers, which may be hinged or foldable in nature. Data captured by sensors of the aerial vehicle may be utilized for any purpose, such as to generate environment maps of an indoor space, or to monitor the indoor space for adverse conditions or events.