UAV Backup Navigation Using Pre-Mapped Visual Flight Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face navigation failures due to primary navigation system failures or spoofing, leading to potential crashes or loss of control, and existing backup navigation systems like Visual Odometry and SLAM algorithms are inadequate for real-time navigation and long-distance navigation.
Innovation Solution
A backup navigation system that generates and updates a map of the flight path using environmental imagery during flight, transitioning to navigate the UAV to a safe landing zone when the primary system fails, utilizing image capture devices to detect and localize features for real-time navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Visual Odometry and SLAM algorithms are used as backup navigation systems, then navigation functionality is provided, but real-time navigation performance and long-distance navigation capability are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates a map of the flight path using environmental imagery captured during the UAV's flight to destination before navigation failure occurs. This preliminary mapping action enables the backup navigation system to have pre-processed spatial information ready for rapid real-time navigation when the primary system fails, resolving the contradiction between reliability and real-time performance.
2Reliability
If Visual Odometry and SLAM algorithms are used as backup navigation systems, then navigation functionality is provided, but long-distance navigation capability is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates a comprehensive map of the entire flight path using environmental imagery captured during the UAV's flight to destination before navigation failure occurs. This preliminary mapping action enables the backup navigation system to have pre-processed spatial information ready for rapid real-time navigation when the primary system fails, resolving the contradiction between reliability and real-time performance.
3Speed
If the backup navigation system generates and updates map using environmental imagery during flight, then real-time navigation and long-distance navigation capability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup navigation system utilizes the same environmental imagery capture devices already present on the UAV for their primary function, and repurposes this captured imagery for dual purposes: both for the primary navigation system and for generating backup navigation maps. This multi-functionality approach improves real-time and long-distance navigation capability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
Described is a method that involves operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to begin a flight, where the UAV relies on a navigation system to navigate to a destination. During the flight, the method involves operating a camera to capture images of the UAV's environment, and analyzing the images to detect features in the environment. The method also involves establishing a correlation between features detected in different images, and using location information from the navigation system to localize a feature detected in different images. Further, the method involves generating a flight log that includes the localized feature. Also, the method involves detecting a failure involving the navigation system, and responsively operating the camera to capture a post-failure image. The method also involves identifying one or more features in the post-failure image, and determining a location of the UAV based on a relationship between an identified feature and a localized feature.