Multi-Sensor UAV Imaging System for Wide Field of View

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Solution Overview

Problem

Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with fixed mount cameras have limited field of view and require longer flight times due to size, weight, and power constraints, and are limited by the analog NTSC video format, restricting their ability to efficiently cover ground areas and conduct reconnaissance missions.

Innovation Solution

An optical imaging system utilizing a sensor array with multiple image sensors that provide a large field of view without the weight of mechanical gimbaled systems, allowing for virtual pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities, while maintaining low power consumption and adhering to NTSC radio link standards, enabling efficient image acquisition and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a gimbaled pan/zoom/tilt camera system is used to increase field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the weight, size, and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidcamera system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera system is divided into multiple independent image sensors arranged in a specific pattern, with each sensor capturing a portion of the overall field of view. This segmentation allows the system to achieve a wide field of view through multiple fixed sensors rather than one large gimbaled system, thereby reducing weight while maintaining coverage area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple image sensors are combined to function as a single virtual camera system with a wide field of view. The sensors are positioned and oriented to capture overlapping regions, which are then merged through image processing to create a composite image representing the entire field of view, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical gimbal structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Weight of moving object

If a fixed mount camera system is used to reduce weight and size, then the weight and size are reduced, but the field of view is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera system weightVSAvoidfield of view

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a single-sensor three-dimensional gimbaled mechanism to a multi-sensor two-dimensional array arrangement. By organizing sensors in a planar configuration with specific spatial relationships, the system achieves wide field of view coverage through geometric arrangement rather than mechanical rotation, reducing weight while maintaining observational coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Power

If the NTSC analog video format is used for radio transmission, then the bandwidth requirements are reduced, but the image resolution and data rate are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidimage resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images at higher resolutions than the NTSC format requires, using multiple high-resolution image sensors that generate more data than can be transmitted over the radio link. Excess data is processed and managed on-board, with only the necessary information transmitted to the ground station, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while adhering to bandwidth constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

Image processing and data reduction are performed on-board the UAV before transmission to the ground station. The system pre-processes captured images to identify and prioritize critical information, reducing the data volume for transmission while preserving essential measurement precision, thus accommodating NTSC bandwidth limitations without sacrificing analytical capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Area of moving object

If multiple image sensors are used to increase field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidcamera system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple image sensors are designed with uniform specifications and identical optical characteristics, allowing them to function interchangeably. This universality simplifies the system architecture by eliminating the need for complex calibration and alignment procedures between sensors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining wide field of view capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8581981B2Optical imaging system for unmanned aerial vehicle

Publication Date: 2013.11.12 SOUTHWEST RES INST

AI summary

An optical imaging system and associated methods for capturing images from an aircraft, such as a UAV. A camera unit on-board the aircraft is remotely controlled from an image control station. The image control station receives image data from the camera unit, and also delivers control signals for determining a viewing mode of the image.