Marker-Guided Drone Delivery for Precise Target Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional unmanned aircraft systems face challenges in accurately specifying and delivering objects to target locations due to large position sensor errors and reliance on camera imagery for location determination.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aircraft equipped with a tether and camera system that uses target and delivery object marker patterns to guide the aircraft to the precise location, allowing for accurate positioning and release of objects using an extending/retracting mechanism and automatic release mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS position sensor is used for location detection, then the unmanned aircraft can navigate autonomously, but the positioning accuracy is insufficient due to large sensor errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to capture images of the ground, and uses image processing to detect marker patterns. This intermediary system bridges the gap between GPS navigation and precise location identification, allowing the aircraft to achieve accurate positioning by recognizing specific marker patterns in captured images rather than relying solely on GPS coordinates.
2Reliability
If camera imagery is used for target location identification, then visual confirmation is possible, but reliable and accurate target location specification is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs marker patterns with distinct visual characteristics (colors, shapes, or patterns) that stand out against the background environment. These specially designed markers enable the camera system to reliably detect and precisely locate target positions through image processing, transforming ordinary visual imagery into accurate location data by searching for these distinctive visual signatures.
3Length of moving object
If a delivery system with drone and delivery vehicle is used, then delivery range is extended, but accurate delivery to target location cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/GPS-based positioning system with an optical recognition system. By using camera capture and image processing to detect marker patterns, the system achieves precise location identification that complements the extended delivery range capability, ensuring accurate delivery even at distant locations where GPS accuracy degrades.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an unmanned aircraft that is used to quickly and accurately specify a target location and operate a specific mechanism having a predetermined function at the target location. An unmanned aircraft 100 refers to a target location marker pattern 120d3 representing an appearance of a target location marker 161 disposed to have a predetermined relative position relationship with the target location, detects an image portion corresponding to the target location marker 161 from an image obtained by a camera 106 that obtains the image below the unmanned aircraft 100, and is guided directly above the target location, based on the image portion, where the specific mechanism is operated.