Touch-Guided UAV Lidar Control for Constant-Distance Inspection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UAVs face challenges in providing intuitive, simple, and reliable controllability for semi-autonomous inspection and surveying tasks, particularly in complex environments, due to the complexity of control systems and the need for precise navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Innovation Solution
A UAV system with a directional distance measuring module, such as a lidar, and a touch-sensitive interface that allows users to control flight through intuitive touch inputs, enabling semi-autonomous navigation and inspection by maintaining a constant distance from object surfaces and aligning the view direction, using touch inputs like strokes and pinches to guide movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a control system with environment sensor system and motion generation system is used to enable semi-autonomous inspection and surveying, then the functionality and automation level of the UAV is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV autonomously determines its position, orientation, and movement commands based on environment sensor data without requiring continuous human intervention. The system serves itself by automatically processing sensor inputs (directional distance measurements, images) to generate navigation decisions, reducing the complexity burden on the operator while maintaining high automation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously receives feedback from the environment sensor system (directional distance measuring module, camera) and adjusts movement commands accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables semi-autonomous operation by allowing the UAV to self-correct its position and orientation based on real-time environmental perception, managing complexity through iterative adaptation rather than pre-programmed rigid control
2Measurement precision
If a directional distance measuring module is added to sense and survey the environment, then the measurement precision and inspection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The directional distance measuring module is integrated with the camera system and control system into a unified environment sensing platform. The distance measurements are combined with visual data to jointly determine UAV position and orientation, merging multiple sensing functions into a coordinated system that achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The directional distance measuring module serves multiple functions: it provides distance data for obstacle avoidance, position information for navigation, and orientation reference for surveying operations. This multi-functionality allows a single sensor addition to enhance measurement precision across multiple tasks without requiring separate specialized systems for each function
3Ease of operation
If touch-sensitive interface with graphical user interface is used to simplify user control, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive graphical user interface displays a visual representation (copy) of the environment as perceived by the UAV's sensors, allowing the operator to interact with a simplified digital model rather than directly controlling complex flight parameters. This copying approach enables intuitive control through familiar touch gestures while the system handles the complex translation of these simple inputs into precise navigation commands
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 operability and controllability of UAVs by allowing intuitive and reliable control, enabling semi-autonomous inspection and surveying tasks with improved navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A UAV, in particular a rotary wing drone type UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), with at least a directional distance measuring module (sensor module), in particular a light detection and ranging (lidar) module
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the operation of a UAV, and the control of a UAV. Aspects of the invention relate to a UAV including a directional distance measuring module for inspecting/surveying/measuring/digitizing the UAV's environment.