Multi-Aircraft Image Capture Coordination to Prevent View Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for coordinating multiple aircraft to capture images of an object effectively do not prevent other aircraft from entering the image capture range of the primary aircraft, leading to potential interference and suboptimal photography.

Innovation Solution

An image capturing method that ranks aircraft hierarchically, allowing the higher-ranked aircraft to control the movement of lower-ranked ones, ensuring that the image capture range of one aircraft does not overlap with others, thereby preventing interference and enabling coordinated aerial photography.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple aircraft are used to capture images of an object simultaneously, then the quantity of images and coverage area are improved, but the risk of aircraft entering each other's image capture range and causing interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of imagesVSAvoidinterference between aircraft
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A management device acts as an intermediary between multiple aircraft, coordinating their movements and image capture ranges. The management device receives image capture range information from each aircraft, determines appropriate movement paths, and transmits control instructions to prevent overlap, thereby enabling multiple aircraft to operate simultaneously without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by having each aircraft transmit its image capture range information to the management device. The management device uses this feedback information to calculate appropriate movement instructions that prevent image capture range overlap, continuously adjusting aircraft positions based on real-time range data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If aircraft are controlled to maintain fixed formation positions, then coordination and ease of operation are improved, but the ability to adapt to different photographing requirements and object positions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination of aircraftVSAvoidadaptability to photographing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The formation control system is made dynamic by allowing the management device to adjust aircraft positions and image capture ranges in real-time based on photographing requirements. Instead of fixed formation positions, the system continuously adapts the relative positions and orientations of aircraft to optimize image capture while maintaining coordinated operation through centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3919374B1Image capturing method
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 REDDOTDRONEJAPAN CO LTD
  • EP3919374B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3919374B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3919374B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

To provide an aircraft of which flight efficiency can be improved. An image capturing method according to this embodiment is a method for capturing an image of an object to be photographed by using a plurality of aircrafts including an image capturing part. The image capturing method includes a ranking step of setting up a predetermined ranking for each of the aircrafts, a control step of performing control on the basis of the ranking, and an image capturing step of moving the aircraft and using the image capturing part to capture an image of the object. According to this configuration, a plurality of aircrafts can be used to capture images of a plurality of objects to be photographed simultaneously from different angles.