Stereo Camera Depth Abort for Obstacle-Safe UAV Deliveries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in safely delivering payloads due to obstacles in the delivery area, such as trees, buildings, and other objects, which can lead to collisions and damage during autonomous navigation.
Innovation Solution
Equipping UAVs with a downward-facing stereo camera to capture depth images, determining an estimated depth value within a sample area, and aborting the delivery process if this value is below a trigger depth to avoid collisions with objects in the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UAV continues the delivery process without depth assessment, then the delivery speed is maintained, but the risk of collision with obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary depth assessment of the delivery area using a stereo camera before the UAV commits to the delivery action. By evaluating depth values and comparing them against trigger depths, the system determines in advance whether the delivery location is safe, preventing collision before it occurs while allowing rapid execution when safe.
2Reliability
If the UAV uses a downward-facing stereo camera to assess depth, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical obstacle detection systems with an optical-based stereo camera system. The stereo camera captures depth information optically, and the image processing system computationally determines depth values, substituting mechanical sensing with optical and computational methods to achieve reliable depth assessment.
3Reliability
If the UAV aborts the delivery process when depth is below trigger depth, then collision risk is reduced, but the delivery success rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors depth values during the delivery process and compares them against predetermined trigger depths. This feedback mechanism allows the UAV to make real-time decisions about whether to continue or abort delivery based on actual environmental conditions, ensuring safety while minimizing unnecessary aborts when the area is safe.
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
Enhances the safety of UAV delivery operations by preventing collisions and ensuring successful payload delivery by assessing the proximity of objects to the UAV and adjusting the delivery location or process accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
a downward-facing stereo camera to capture depth images, determining an estimated depth value representative of depth values within a sample area
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes, during a delivery process of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), receiving, by an image processing system, a depth image captured by a downward-facing stereo camera on the UAV. One or more pixels are within a sample area of the depth image and are associated with corresponding depth values indicative of distances of one or more objects to the downward-facing stereo camera. The method also includes determining, by the image processing system an estimated depth value representative of depth values within the sample area. The method further includes determining that the estimated depth value is below a trigger depth. The method further includes, based at least on determining that the estimated depth value is below the trigger depth, aborting the delivery process of the UAV.