Multirotor Flight Control for Stable Image Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multirotor aircraft are inherently unstable, leading to oscillations and vibrations that affect image quality, especially in the hands of inexperienced pilots, as they require constant motor speed adjustments and are sensitive to remote control actuation, making image acquisition difficult, especially in low-light conditions.
Innovation Solution
A remotely controlled multirotor aircraft system that uses a direction and orientation signal generated by an interface device, such as a voice-controlled system or a gesture recognition device, to control the aircraft's movement and orientation independently of the pilot's skills, reducing vibrations and improving image quality by positioning the camera closer to the center of mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a servo-assisted cardan support is used to correct aircraft orientation, then image quality is improved, but device weight increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical servo-assisted cardan support system with an electronic/image-processing-based solution. The flight control unit receives direction signals and controls the multirotor aircraft to move in the indicated direction, while image processing compensates for vibrations and movements, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical gimbals and servomotors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that includes a flight control unit and image processing unit. These intermediaries translate direction signals into controlled aircraft movements and process images to compensate for vibrations, serving as a software-based mediator between the control signal and the final image quality without requiring heavy mechanical components.
2Ease of operation
If traditional remote control actuation is used, then pilot control flexibility is maintained, but aircraft oscillations and vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service control where the aircraft automatically adjusts its movement based on direction signals received from the interface device. The flight control unit autonomously interprets the direction indication and controls the aircraft to move in the indicated direction without requiring continuous manual adjustment by the pilot, thereby reducing oscillations while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control where the aircraft's movement is continuously adjusted based on the direction signal and real-time conditions. The flight control unit dynamically controls the aircraft's trajectory and orientation to follow the indicated direction while compensating for disturbances, creating a adaptive control system that maintains stability without rigid mechanical constraints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If video acquisition means is positioned away from center of mass, then mounting flexibility is improved, but sensitivity to pitch movements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the flight control unit continuously monitors the aircraft's orientation and movement relative to the indicated direction and adjusts motor speeds to compensate for pitch movements. This feedback mechanism counteracts the destabilizing effect of positioning the video acquisition means away from the center of mass, maintaining image stability while preserving mounting flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes control parameters (motor speeds, thrust distribution) to compensate for the offset position of the video acquisition means. By adjusting these parameters in real-time based on aircraft attitude and direction signals, the system maintains image stability despite the flexible but suboptimal mounting position.
Data Source
AI summary
A remotely controlled multirotor aircraft for acquiring images and an interface device for controlling the aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes a receiving component adapted to receive a direction and/or orientation signal which can be transmitted by an interface device, wherein the direction and/or orientation signal defines a direction in which the aircraft must move and/or be oriented, and a flight control component adapted to control the attitude of the aircraft and configured for reading the direction and/or orientation signal, determining, on the basis of the direction and/or orientation signal, the direction in which the aircraft must move and/or be oriented, and generating a control signal adapted to make the aircraft take an attitude such as to make it move and/or be oriented in the predetermined direction.