Optical Self-Positioning via Angular Mark Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current navigation systems face challenges in providing accurate positioning in urban environments due to GPS signal obstructions and reliance on distance-based methods, which are prone to errors from reflections and signal attenuation.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system that uses a camera module to capture images of optical marks and calculates the angle subtended between them, converting pixel distances into geographical coordinates to determine the location of the positioning module, thereby avoiding distance-based errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS signal is used for positioning, then positioning coverage is wide, but positioning accuracy deteriorates in urban environments due to signal obstructions and attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical marks as intermediary objects placed at known locations in the environment. Instead of directly relying on GPS signals that are blocked by buildings, the system uses these visual markers as intermediate reference points. The camera captures images of these marks, and the processor calculates the device's position based on the angular relationships between multiple marks, effectively mediating the positioning function in GPS-denied urban environments.
2Measurement precision
If triangulation method based on distance to beacons is used, then positioning can be achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to signal reflections and multi-path reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the radio frequency-based triangulation system with an optical imaging system. Instead of using electromagnetic waves that are prone to reflections and multi-path reception, the system uses visible light captured by a camera to form images of optical marks. This substitution of the sensing modality eliminates the harmful effects of RF signal reflections while maintaining the ability to calculate position through geometric relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of measuring distance directly (which is prone to error from reflections), the patent inverts the approach by measuring angles through image capture. The system captures the angular positions of optical marks in the camera's field of view and uses these angular measurements to calculate position, thereby avoiding the direct distance measurement problems associated with signal reflections.
3Measurement precision
If optical marks are analyzed pixel-by-pixel, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to image processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing the known geographic coordinates of multiple optical marks in a database before the positioning operation. When the camera captures an image, the system retrieves the pre-stored coordinates of visible marks and directly calculates the device's position based on the captured image coordinates and the pre-known mark positions, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis of mark features.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical recognition based positioning method and a positioning system, which can replace or compensate conventional satellite-based GPS, is provided. A position is determined utilizing a digital image, which captured a set of optical marks of known geographic coordinates. The distances in pixel coordinates of the optical marks within the digital image are converted into an angle at the camera between the actual geographical coordinate of the optical marks. A first group of points having the same angle as the first and second optical marks are identified. A second group of points having the same angle as the second and third optical marks are identified. Also, a third group of points having the same angle as the first and third optical marks are identified. Then, a point that co-exist in the first, second and the third group is identified as the geographical location of the positioning module.