UAV Ground Control Point Assignment for Faster Hazard-Site Surveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for preparing Ground Control Points (GCPs) are time-consuming and pose safety risks, especially in hazardous locations, as they require manual travel and marking of geographic locations for accurate location information.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system that travels to designated geographic locations, performs actions such as marking or dropping markers, and records location information, significantly reducing preparation time and minimizing human exposure to dangerous areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual travel and marking methods are used to prepare GCPs, then location information can be obtained, but preparation time is excessive and safety risks arise in hazardous locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (traveling to locations, setting up tripods, marking surfaces) with an automated aerial vehicle that can autonomously navigate to geographic locations, mark surfaces with biodegradable material, and record location information. This substitution dramatically reduces preparation time while maintaining measurement precision through automated GNSS receiver data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerial vehicle performs the entire GCP preparation process autonomously without requiring human presence at the geographic locations. The system self-navigates to waypoints, self-marks surfaces with identifiable material, self-records location information using onboard sensors and GNSS receivers, and self-transmits data to external systems, eliminating the time-consuming manual process.
2Measurement precision
If manual travel and marking methods are used to prepare GCPs, then location information can be obtained, but safety risks are posed to persons in hazardous locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human operators with an automated aerial vehicle equipped with GNSS receivers and marking capabilities. This eliminates exposure to harmful factors such as unstable terrain, extreme weather, and dangerous equipment in quarry or mine sites while maintaining the ability to collect precise location information through automated measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerial vehicle serves as an intermediary between the need for GCP preparation and the hazardous environment. It performs all necessary operations (navigation, marking, data collection) remotely, acting as a mediator that eliminates direct human contact with harmful factors while still achieving the measurement objectives.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual marking of geographic locations is performed, then GCPs can be designated, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual marking operations with an automated aerial vehicle that can rapidly mark multiple geographic locations using biodegradable material dispensed from onboard systems. This automation increases productivity by eliminating the need for manual travel and marking while maintaining ease of operation through pre-programmed waypoint navigation and automated marking sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerial vehicle performs marking operations continuously as it flies from one waypoint to the next, eliminating the stop-start nature of manual operations. The vehicle can mark multiple GCPs in a single flight path, maintaining continuous productive action throughout the preparation process and significantly increasing overall preparation speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for ground control point assignment and determination. One of the methods includes receiving information describing a flight plan for the UAV to implement, the flight plan identifying one or more waypoints associated with geographic locations assigned as ground control points. A first waypoint identified in the flight plan is traveled to, and an action to designate a surface at the associated geographic location is designated as a ground control point. Location information associated with the designated surface is stored. The stored location information is provided to an outside system for storage.