Autonomous UAV Image Capture for Structural Shape Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for precision shape measurement of large-sized structures using photogrammetry require multiple image captures from various locations, necessitating repeated vehicle movements and multiple operators, and do not effectively consider the structure's influence on flight paths in unmanned air vehicle systems.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing system comprising an air vehicle equipped with an image capturing device and an on-board control device, which includes an image capturing scenario storage, controller, and a remote control device that creates and transfers a predetermined flight and image capturing scenario to ensure efficient and precise image capture without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a vehicle for high lift work is used to capture multiple images from different locations, then measurement precision is improved, but the time and effort required increases due to repeated vehicle movements and multiple operators
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned air vehicle autonomously executes the flight plan and captures images without requiring continuous human intervention. The vehicle self-navigates to predetermined positions, self-adjusts its flight path to avoid the structure, and self-completes the image capturing sequence, eliminating the need for multiple operators and repeated manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight plan is created in advance with predetermined image capturing points and routes that account for the structure's influence on flight. By pre-calculating the optimal flight path that avoids the structure while capturing necessary images, the system eliminates the need for repeated trial-and-error adjustments during actual operation, reducing time and effort.
2Device complexity
If a flight plan is created without considering the structure's influence, then device complexity is reduced, but the air vehicle may collide with the structure or fail to maintain safe distance
Solution Approach 1:
The flight plan incorporates localized adjustments specifically around the structure's spatial coordinates. Rather than making the entire flight plan complex, the system applies structure-avoidance logic only in the relevant spatial zones where the structure exists, maintaining simple routing elsewhere while ensuring safety near the target.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes the flight plan to automatically generate structure-avoidance routes. This intermediary system translates simple destination points into safe flight paths that account for the structure's geometry, shielding the operator from complexity while ensuring reliable collision avoidance.
3Ease of operation
If multiple operators are required for vehicle operation and image capturing, then operational control is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of vehicle operation and image capturing control into a single integrated system. The unmanned air vehicle combines navigation, positioning, and image capture operations under one autonomous control architecture, eliminating the need for separate operators to coordinate vehicle and camera functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-coordination of vehicle movement and image capturing through autonomous control. The vehicle automatically synchronizes its positioning with the imaging schedule defined in the flight plan, eliminating the need for human operators to manually coordinate these functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing system for shape measurement includes: an image capturing device configured to capture an image of a structure; an air vehicle; an on-board control device configured to control the image capturing device and the air vehicle in accordance with an image capturing scenario; and a remote control device configured to create an image capturing scenario and transfer the created image capturing scenario to the on-board control device. The air vehicle autonomously flies to image capturing points sequentially so as to capture images. The captured data is transmitted to the remote control device via a wireless LAN.