Runway Recognition Using Image Processing for Air Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air mobility systems face challenges in determining the position of a runway without an instrument landing system (ILS) and are vulnerable to errors in the global positioning system (GPS), which affects landing stability and availability in wider areas.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for recognizing a runway using images obtained by air mobility, which includes a camera and a processor. The processor determines the flight status of the air mobility and uses image processing algorithms to identify the runway position during the approach phase and the centerline during the ground roll phase, reducing dependency on ILS and GPS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air mobility uses ILS and GPS for landing, then landing stability is maintained, but the system cannot operate in places without ILS and is vulnerable to GPS errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image-based runway recognition system as an intermediary between the air mobility and traditional navigation systems (ILS/GPS). The camera captures images of the runway, and image processing algorithms extract runway position and orientation information, serving as a mediator that enables operation without ILS while maintaining landing stability through visual feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic navigation systems (ILS antennas, GPS receivers) with an optical system (camera-based image processing). This substitution eliminates dependency on ILS infrastructure and GPS signals, allowing operation in places without ILS while providing alternative runway position information for stable landing
2Adaptability or versatility
If air mobility uses image-based runway recognition, then dependency on ILS and GPS is reduced, but the system must accurately distinguish between approach phase and ground roll phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes in image characteristics to distinguish between flight phases. During approach phase, the runway appears smaller and farther away in the image, while during ground roll phase, the runway occupies more of the field of view and shows different perspective characteristics. These parameter changes in image scale, perspective, and feature visibility enable automatic flight phase discrimination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the different image processing algorithms for each flight phase. The system is prepared with separate processing pipelines: one for approach phase (detecting runway position from distance) and another for ground roll phase (tracking centerline from close proximity). This preliminary preparation enables rapid, accurate phase discrimination without complex real-time analysis
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for recognizing a runway using an image can include a camera mounted on air mobility to obtain images for an area in front of the air mobility and a processor connected with the camera. The processor can determine a flight status of the air mobility, based on flight phase information of the air mobility, obtain information a position of a runway for the air mobility from a first image obtained by the camera, in response to the flight status being an approach phase, and obtain information about a position of a centerline of the runway from a second image obtained by the camera, in response to the flight status being a ground roll phase.