UAV Camera Turret High Bandwidth Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

UAV-mounted cameras face challenges in size, weight, and drag due to the need for high-resolution image processing, which affects power conservation, range, and aerodynamics, as existing designs often require bulky and heavy processing components within the turret.

Innovation Solution

Centralizing video image processing within the aircraft fuselage, away from the turret, reduces the weight and size of the turret by offloading processing tasks from the turret-mounted components, using a central video image processor connected via high-bandwidth data transmission to handle image data from gimbal-mounted cameras.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If video image processing components are mounted within the turret, then image processing capability is provided, but the turret weight and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing capabilityVSAvoidturret weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the video image processing components from the turret and relocates them to the aircraft fuselage. The turret retains only the camera and essential mounting mechanisms, while the processing functionality is removed and centralized in the fuselage, thereby reducing turret weight and size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the turret contains only the camera and basic mounting mechanisms, while the aircraft fuselage contains the video image processing components. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If video image processing components are mounted within the turret, then image processing capability is provided, but the turret size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing capabilityVSAvoidturret size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the turret is made smaller and lighter, then drag is reduced, but processing capability must be maintained externally

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedragVSAvoidimage processing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the video image processing components from the turret and relocates them to the aircraft fuselage. This extraction reduces the turret's size and weight, thereby minimizing drag on the aircraft, while the processing capability is maintained in the fuselage where space and power are available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces high-bandwidth data transmission systems as an intermediary between the turret camera and the fuselage processor. This intermediary enables the separation of functional components while maintaining efficient data flow, allowing the turret to be minimized for reduced drag while the fuselage provides the necessary processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Weight of moving object

If processing components are reduced in the turret, then weight and size are reduced, but data transmission bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturret weightVSAvoiddata transmission bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the video image processing components from the turret, reducing its weight. This extraction concentrates data transmission requirements into dedicated high-bandwidth channels between the turret and fuselage, allowing the turret to be minimized while the fuselage provides the necessary processing capability and data handling infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20230078078A1Camera ball turret having high bandwidth data transmission to external image processor

Publication Date: 2023.03.16 AEROVIRONMENT INC

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage, a gimbal-mounted turret having one or more degrees of freedom relative to the fuselage, a camera disposed in the gimbal-mounted turret for motion therewith in the one or more degrees of freedom, and a central video image processor disposed exteriorly of the gimbal-mounted turret, the central video image processor configured to receive and process image data from the camera.