UAV Airport Marker Layout for Low-Similarity Landing Point Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual planning of marker positions in unmanned aerial vehicle airports is inefficient and costly, hindering the effective allocation of markers for takeoff and landing points.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for determining a target layout of an unmanned aerial vehicle airport based on airport shape and size, using a predetermined standard shape and size of takeoff and landing points, and allocating unique markers to these points through a search algorithm to minimize marker similarity in their neighborhoods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual planning is used to determine marker positions in the unmanned aerial vehicle airport, then the marker allocation can be completed, but the process consumes a lot of time and has high costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarker allocation efficiencyVSAvoidtime consumption for marker planning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical planning process with an automated computer-based system. The system automatically determines marker positions by processing airport layout data and generating optimized marker allocations, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining high precision in marker placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual planning is used to determine marker positions, then the marker allocation can be completed, but the cost is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarker allocation efficiencyVSAvoidcost of marker allocation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive manual planning services with an automated computational system. The system uses algorithms to process airport layout data and generate marker positions automatically, eliminating labor costs and reducing overall project expenses while delivering consistent, high-quality results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically generating marker allocations without requiring external manual intervention. The automated process handles data processing, position optimization, and result generation independently, reducing dependency on human experts and lowering operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Area of stationary object

If markers are allocated to multiple takeoff and landing points, then the space utilization of UAV airport is improved, but the complexity of marker allocation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilization of UAV airportVSAvoidcomplexity of marker allocation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the airport into multiple standardized takeoff and landing point templates. Each template represents a standardized configuration that can be repeatedly instantiated across the airport layout. This segmentation approach simplifies the overall allocation process by breaking down the complex task into manageable, reusable units while maximizing space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining standardized takeoff and landing point templates with associated marker configurations. These pre-configured templates can be automatically instantiated and adjusted based on the specific airport layout, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making and enabling efficient scaling to multiple points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If markers with high similarity are allocated to adjacent takeoff and landing points, then the marker allocation is simple, but the accuracy of UAV landing identification decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarker allocation speedVSAvoidlanding point identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making marker characteristics location-dependent. The system analyzes the spatial relationships and contextual environments of different takeoff and landing points, then assigns markers with appropriate similarity levels based on their specific locations. This ensures that adjacent markers have sufficient differentiation for accurate identification while maintaining overall allocation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12619251B2Marker allocation method and apparatus in unmanned aerial vehicle airport and unmanned aerial vehicle landing method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 BEIJING SANKUAI ONLINE TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a marker allocation method. According to an airport shape and an airport size of an unmanned aerial vehicle airport and a standard shape and a standard size of a takeoff and landing point, a target layout of an unmanned aerial vehicle airport that includes takeoff and landing points is determined. Further, an initial takeoff and landing point is determined from the takeoff and landing points included in the target layout. Markers respectively allocated to the takeoff and landing points are determined from a predetermined marker set that includes markers of different image content, by using the initial takeoff and landing point as a start point, according to a predetermined search algorithm, and with a constraint that similarity between a marker of any one of the multiple takeoff and landing points and markers of other takeoff and landing points in a specified neighborhood thereof is the lowest.