Aircraft Landing Gear Position Detection Using Image Centroid Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the position of aircraft landing gear components are intrusive, require multiple sensors, and lack efficient monitoring of component movement, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential safety issues during flight stages.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using image processing to determine the position of aircraft landing gear components by obtaining images, calculating the centroid of a region of interest, and comparing it against predetermined threshold coordinates, allowing for non-intrusive monitoring and reduced sensor usage, with optional tracking of component movement using object tracking algorithms and multiple imaging devices like digital cameras or lidar systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional sensor-based methods are used to determine component position, then position data can be obtained, but the system becomes intrusive and requires multiple sensors increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image copying technology to create a virtual model of the landing gear component from captured images. By processing and analyzing these image copies, the system determines component position without requiring physical sensors on the actual component, thus reducing sensor complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based measurement system with an optical image processing system. Instead of using physical sensors to detect component position, the system captures images, processes them through coordinate transformation and region of interest analysis, and derives position information from the image data, thereby eliminating the need for multiple physical sensors
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are installed to monitor component movement, then movement can be detected, but the weight and complexity of the landing gear assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the image capture device multi-functional by using it for both position determination and movement monitoring. The same imaging system that captures component position can also track movement by comparing sequential images, eliminating the need for separate sensors and reducing overall system weight while maintaining reliable monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing system serves itself by using the same captured images for multiple purposes. The processed image data that determines component position is also utilized to detect and track component movement, allowing the system to achieve multiple monitoring functions without additional hardware weight
3Measurement precision
If physical sensors are used to determine component position, then position data is obtained, but the system requires physical interaction which reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary image processing system between the component and the measurement process. Instead of direct physical contact between sensors and components, the system uses captured images as an intermediary to extract position information, eliminating physical interaction issues while maintaining measurement precision through coordinate analysis
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of determining a position of a component of an aircraft landing gear assembly. The method comprises obtaining an image of the aircraft landing gear assembly and determining a region of interest within the image, the region of interest containing the component of the aircraft landing gear assembly. The method also comprises calculating a coordinate of a centroid of the bounding box and comparing the coordinate of the centroid against a corresponding predetermined threshold coordinate to determine the position of the component of the aircraft landing gear assembly.