UAV Marker Tracking for Precise Autonomous Landing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UAV landing technologies are insufficient due to reliance on GPS signals, which may be unavailable or imprecise, and vision-based systems that struggle with maintaining the target marker within the camera's field of view as the UAV moves.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that detects a target marker through multiple images, determines its spatial relationship, and controls the UAV to approach while maintaining the marker within the camera's field of view, using processors to adjust the imaging device's position and the UAV's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vision-based systems are used to detect target markers for UAV landing, then landing precision can be improved, but the system fails to maintain the target marker within the camera's field of view as the UAV moves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanding precisionVSAvoidmarker tracking reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously captures images, detects the target marker position, and uses this feedback to adjust the imaging device's orientation and UAV's movement in real-time, ensuring the marker remains within the field of view throughout the landing approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The imaging device is made dynamically adjustable through motorized rotation and tilting mechanisms, allowing it to actively track and maintain the target marker within the field of view as the UAV moves during approach and landing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If GPS-based landing systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but accuracy deteriorates due to signal unavailability or imprecision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidlanding accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces GPS satellite-based positioning with a local vision-based marker recognition system, substituting radio frequency signal dependency with optical field-based target detection and spatial relationship calculation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the imaging device position is adjusted to track the target marker, then marker visibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarker visibilityVSAvoidimaging device control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging device is designed with multi-functionality, capable of both capturing images for marker detection and actively rotating/tilting to track the marker, consolidating multiple functions into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12130636B2Methods and system for autonomous landing

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 SZ DJI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for controlling a UAV includes identifying a set of target markers based on a plurality of images captured by an imaging device carried by the UAV, and controlling the UAV to fly based on the set of target markers. The set of target markers include at least two or more types of target markers and are in close proximity to be detected within a same field of view of the imaging device. Controlling the UAV to fly includes controlling the UAV to approach the set of target markers based at least in part on a spatial relationship between the UAV and a first type of target marker; and determining whether to control the UAV to land at or near the set of target markers based on information conveyed by a second type of target marker.