Stereo Camera Navigation for Vertical-Takeoff Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation technologies for vertical-takeoff aircraft require ground facilities and DGPS for accurate positioning, leading to complex system structures, increased flying time, and unnecessary fuel consumption, as they need to measure absolute coordinates and wait for DGPS convergence.
Innovation Solution
A navigation apparatus with image recognition that integrates stereo imaging, inertial information, and image processing to calculate relative positions and navigation information, eliminating the need for ground facilities and DGPS by using a stereo camera and inertial sensors to provide accurate positional data directly from the aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ground facilities (microphone, millimeter-wave radar, stereo camera) are set near the target spot, then navigation control can be performed, but the system cannot navigate to spots where these facilities are not set
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft body performs self-navigation by using its own onboard imaging section and inertial information detecting section to acquire images and measurement data, calculate relative position autonomously, and navigate to the target spot without requiring any ground facilities
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation function is extracted from ground-based facilities and transferred to the aircraft body itself, eliminating the need for external ground infrastructure by making the aircraft self-sufficient for navigation
2Measurement precision
If DGPS is used to measure absolute coordinate of target spot, then accurate relative positional information can be obtained, but measurement time and labor are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The complex DGPS measurement system is replaced with a simplified imaging-based system where the imaging section captures images of the target spot and the image process calculating section extracts position information directly from the images, eliminating the need for DGPS base stations and complex coordinate measurements
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex DGPS measurement procedures, the system creates a visual copy of the target spot through imaging and extracts position information from this optical copy, simplifying the measurement process while maintaining accuracy
3Reliability
If DGPS base station is set on the ground, then correction information can be transmitted to aircraft, but system structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The DGPS base station and correction information transmission infrastructure are completely removed from the system. Instead of using DGPS for correction, the image process calculating section directly calculates accurate relative position information from captured images, eliminating the need for external correction systems
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft system independently calculates its own position information using onboard imaging and inertial sensors without requiring external DGPS correction infrastructure, making the system self-sufficient and structurally simpler
4Measurement precision
If DGPS convergence is waited for, then accurate positional information can be obtained, but flying time increases and extra fuel is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The DGPS convergence process is replaced with immediate image-based position calculation. The imaging section captures images and the image process calculating section directly computes relative position without requiring time-consuming signal convergence, enabling immediate navigation decisions
Solution Approach 2:
Position information is calculated immediately from captured images without waiting for convergence processes. The system performs the necessary calculations in advance based on the captured image data, eliminating the need to hover or delay for convergence
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables immediate and accurate navigation without ground facilities or DGPS, simplifying system structure, reducing flying time, and conserving fuel by correcting inertial data with image-processed relative positions, allowing for autonomous landing, takeoff, and hovering operations.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of imaging sections 11 for obtaining a stereo image of the target spot
Implementation Method 2
an inertial information detecting section 12 for measuring an attitude angle of a body and an acceleration of the body
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation apparatus with image recognition, includes: an imaging section for obtaining a stereo image of a target spot; an inertial information detecting section for measuring an attitude angle of a body and an acceleration of the body; an image process calculating section for calculating a relative position of the body with respect to the target spot based on the stereo image and the attitude angle; and a navigation calculating section for calculating navigation information based on the attitude angle, the acceleration and the relative position.