UAV Environmental Mapping with Complementary Ground Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating environmental maps using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are limited by occlusions from obstacles like tunnels and trees, leading to insufficient data acquisition, particularly for autonomous vehicle navigation, and are less effective compared to using manned measuring vehicles, which are time and cost-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An environment map automatic creation device that includes a travelable area extraction unit, area category determination unit, and complementary portion determination unit to identify and present areas requiring additional measurement, utilizing sensors like cameras, LIDAR, and millimeter wave radar to generate three-dimensional shape information and determine travelable areas and necessary complementary measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If environmental map is created using UAV, then measurement time and cost are reduced, but measurement precision is insufficient due to occlusions from obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of occluded areas by analyzing three-dimensional shape information and determining complementary measurement portions before actual measurement begins. This allows the measurement vehicle to target specific areas that need complementary measurement, improving overall measurement precision while maintaining the efficiency of UAV-based mapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement vehicle that complements the UAV measurement by measuring specific occluded portions. This intermediary approach allows the system to combine the advantages of both UAV (overall coverage, speed) and ground-based measurement (detail accuracy, ability to measure occluded areas).
2Measurement precision
If environmental map is created using manned measuring vehicle, then measurement precision is sufficient, but measurement time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement task into two parts: (1) overall environmental mapping using UAV, and (2) complementary measurement of occluded portions using a ground-based measurement vehicle. This segmentation allows the system to use the faster, cheaper UAV for most areas while only deploying the slower, more expensive ground vehicle for specific occluded areas, thereby reducing overall time and cost while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the ground-based measurement vehicle for the entire area (excessive action), the system uses it only for the complementary portions that need additional measurement (partial action). This partial application of the more resource-intensive measurement method only where necessary optimizes both time and cost while ensuring sufficient precision in critical areas.
3Measurement precision
If three-dimensional map is created using aerial photograph, then height information is obtained, but unmeasured areas are incorrectly identified as complete areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the three-dimensional shape information to identify areas where the UAV measurement was insufficient. By analyzing the completeness of the three-dimensional map and detecting complementary measurement portions, the system can determine which areas need additional ground-based measurement to obtain complete route information, preventing incorrect identification of unmeasured areas as complete.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the creation of comprehensive environmental maps using UAVs, effectively addressing occlusions and ensuring sufficient data acquisition for autonomous vehicle navigation by presenting and measuring complementary portions, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of map creation.
Implementation Method 1
a laser distance measuring sensor (light detection and ranging: LIDAR)
Implementation Method 2
a camera
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an environment map automatic creation device using a flying object. The environment map automatic creation device includes a travelable area extraction unit that extracts a travelable area where a vehicle can travel in a certain area based on three-dimensional shape information of an area for creating an environmental map, which is acquired by a sensor in a flying object, an area category determination unit that determines a category of the travelable area, a complementary portion determination unit that determines whether or not to measure a complementary portion which complements the travelable area based on the travelable area and the category, and a complementary measurement portion presentation unit that presents the complementary measurement portion.