UAV-to-Vehicle Marker Alignment for Accurate Goods Unloading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for delivering goods using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in accurately unloading goods into designated storage boxes on autonomous vehicles, leading to reduced reliability and potential loss or damage due to inaccurate placement.
Innovation Solution
A method where the UAV captures images of the autonomous vehicle's storage box, recognizes a marker using image analysis, adjusts its position relative to the autonomous vehicle based on the marker recognition, and then unloads the goods into the storage box either by lowering a gripping member or releasing the goods in mid-air depending on the handling attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the unmanned aerial vehicle delivers goods to a designated location, then the delivery service can reach remote areas efficiently, but the goods may not be accurately unloaded into the storage box leading to loss or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time image capture and marker recognition to provide feedback on the relative position between the UAV and storage box, enabling continuous adjustment of the UAV's position to achieve accurate unloading
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual positioning and mechanical alignment with automated image analysis and computer vision-based marker recognition to determine relative position and guide unloading accuracy
2Manufacturing precision
If the unmanned aerial vehicle hovers close to the autonomous vehicle for unloading, then accurate placement is achieved, but the risk of collision or instability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual markers as intermediaries to enable precise distance and position measurement between the UAV and storage box, allowing accurate unloading while maintaining a safe operational distance
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary position adjustment and alignment using image analysis before the actual unloading operation, ensuring the UAV is correctly positioned to minimize collision risk during goods release
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
This solution ensures accurate and reliable unloading of goods into the designated storage boxes, enhancing the stability and reliability of the delivery process while minimizing the risk of loss or damage.
Implementation Method 1
capturing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle, an image of the autonomous vehicle having a storage box for storing goods, recognizing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle, a marker displayed in the storage box by analyzing the captured image
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for an unmanned aerial vehicle to handle goods in cooperation with an autonomous vehicle. The method performed by the unmanned aerial vehicle includes at least: capturing an image of the autonomous vehicle having a goods storage box; recognizing a marker displayed in the goods storage box by analyzing the captured image; identifying a region occupied by the marker on the captured image; adjusting a relative position of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the autonomous vehicle. The marker displayed in the goods storage box is covered by a lid of the goods storage box and placed in a state that cannot be captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The marker is exposed in a state that can be captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle only when the lid of the storage box is opened by communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the autonomous vehicle.