Mobile Device Orientation Detection for High-Speed UAV Collision Avoidance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) fail to accurately specify the orientation of observed mobile devices in imaging data, and collision avoidance methods are inadequate when high speeds are involved.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device and method that analyzes imaging data to specify the orientation of a mobile device, using features like propellers and cameras, and controls movement to avoid collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If imaging data is analyzed to specify orientation of mobile devices, then orientation specification accuracy is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation specification accuracyVSAvoidimaging data analysis complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses markers as simplified copies or representations of mobile devices. Instead of analyzing complex device features directly, the system attaches recognizable markers to mobile devices, which serve as proxies for orientation detection. The imaging device captures these markers, and their orientations are calculated based on marker geometry, significantly simplifying the analysis process while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs markers with distinct visual characteristics (colors, patterns, geometric shapes) that can be easily differentiated and analyzed in imaging data. These visual features enable reliable detection and orientation calculation by providing high-contrast, easily identifiable targets in the captured images, resolving the complexity of analyzing generic mobile device appearances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If only distance and speed are measured for collision avoidance, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but collision avoidance reliability deteriorates at high speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidance reliabilityVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary orientation specification of mobile devices before collision avoidance decisions are made. By determining the orientation (direction) of observed mobile devices in advance, the system can predict future positions more accurately and make better-informed collision avoidance decisions, especially critical at high speeds where reaction time is limited.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a feedback loop where orientation information from imaging data analysis continuously updates the collision avoidance system. The specified orientations of mobile devices provide feedback about their movement directions, allowing the imaging device to adjust its own trajectory dynamically based on real-time orientation and position data, thereby improving collision avoidance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250308390A1Information processing device, information processing method, program, and mobile device

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

It is intended to allow an orientation of a mobile device observed in imaging data to be more appropriately specified. There is provided an information processing device including an acquisition unit that acquires the imaging data and a direction specification unit that analyzes the imaging data to specify the orientation of the mobile device observed in the imaging data.