Autonomous Vehicle Positioning for UAV Goods Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery systems face challenges in accurately unloading goods at designated positions, leading to potential damage or loss due to external factors like rain and wind, as the goods are not reliably transferred to a storage box.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle is designed to collaborate with UAVs by using sensing data such as optical signals, images, and distance measurements to adjust its position and safely take over goods, employing mechanisms like folding poles, air mats, or lifting units to ensure precise and secure unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If goods are unloaded by unmanned aerial vehicle directly at designated position, then delivery speed is improved, but unloading precision deteriorates causing goods to be misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
An autonomous ground vehicle is introduced as an intermediary between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the final destination. The UAV delivers goods to the autonomous ground vehicle, which then precisely positions and stores goods in the storage box, separating the rapid delivery function from the precise unloading function.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system is segmented into two independent stages: aerial transport by UAV for speed, and ground-based precise unloading by autonomous vehicle for accuracy. This division allows each component to optimize for its specific function without compromise.
2Ease of operation
If goods are unloaded around the goods storage box instead of accurately into it, then unloading operation is simplified, but reliability of delivery deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous ground vehicle uses sensors (cameras, LIDAR, ultrasonic sensors) to continuously detect the position of the storage box and adjust its position accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable unloading while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous ground vehicle autonomously navigates to the correct position, detects the storage box location, and performs the unloading operation without human intervention, combining simplicity with reliability through self-contained automation.
3Manufacturing precision
If autonomous vehicle adjusts position using sensing data, then unloading precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous ground vehicle is designed as a multi-functional platform that integrates navigation, sensing, position adjustment, and goods handling capabilities in a single system, reducing overall system complexity compared to multiple separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for an autonomous vehicle to handle goods in collaboration with an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method comprises recognizing an unmanned aerial vehicle loading goods by the autonomous vehicle, capturing an image of the recognized unmanned aerial vehicle by the autonomous vehicle, analyzing the captured image to recognize a marker by the autonomous vehicle, adjusting a relative position of the autonomous vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle by moving the autonomous vehicle based on a recognition result of the marker, and taking over the goods from the unmanned aerial vehicle by the autonomous vehicle after position adjustment is completed.