Structure Image Capture Planning With Feedback for UAV Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image acquisition methods using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack feedback and analysis during and after flights, leading to unsatisfactory image quality and the need for repeated image acquisition events, which are costly and time-consuming, and often result in images that are unfit for intended purposes due to factors like occlusions, poor navigation, and inadequate sensor resolution.
Innovation Solution
The development of improved capture plans that allow for after-the-fact analysis of image acquisition events to determine the effectiveness of the capture plan goals, enabling the generation of new plans to achieve desired information types, and providing real-time adjustments during image acquisition to ensure the capture plan goals are met, using a method that includes defining capture plan goals, generating and processing images, and comparing them to desired outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional UAV flight plans are used without feedback mechanisms, then the flight operation is simple and quick to execute, but the image quality and information accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by analyzing acquired images to determine whether capture plan goals were met, then using this analysis to generate improved capture plans for subsequent image acquisition events. This closed-loop approach ensures image quality improvement while managing system complexity through automated analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of capture plan effectiveness before finalizing the capture plan for execution. By evaluating whether the planned capture strategy will achieve desired information types and accuracy levels before the actual flight, the system prevents poor quality images without requiring complex real-time adjustments during flight.
2Measurement precision
If multiple image acquisition events are conducted to ensure quality images, then the image quality and information accuracy improve, but the time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing feedback through automated analysis of whether capture plan goals are met, the system identifies issues with the first image acquisition event and generates an improved capture plan, eliminating the need for multiple redundant flights and reducing overall time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual trial-and-error approaches with automated image analysis and capture plan generation algorithms, significantly reducing the time required to optimize image acquisition strategy across multiple events.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive analysis of capture plan effectiveness is performed, then the accuracy of information derived from images improves, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential information needed to determine whether capture plan goals were met, rather than performing exhaustive analysis of all image data. This selective extraction approach maintains information accuracy while minimizing processing time and computational resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial analysis focused specifically on evaluating capture plan goal achievement rather than comprehensive image processing, achieving sufficient accuracy for capture plan optimization without the full computational burden of complete image analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to improvements in systems and methods in acquiring images via imaging devices, where such imaging devices can be configured, in some implementations, with an unmanned aerial vehicle or other vehicle types, as well as being hand-held. Images are acquired from the imaging devices according to capture plans where useful information types about a structure of interest (or objects, items, etc.) can be derived from a structure image acquisition event. Images acquired from capture plans can be evaluated to generate improvements in capture plans for use in subsequent structure image acquisition events. Capture plans provided herein generate accurate information as to all or part of the structure of interest, where accuracy is in relation to the real-life structure incorporated in the acquired images.