UAV Nighttime Formation Positioning Using LED Color Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UAV cluster positioning methods face challenges in achieving high-precision, reliable, and cost-effective nighttime positioning, especially in complex environments, with existing methods like laser pulse ranging being costly, UWB having poor stability, ultrasonic being slow, and radio ranging being unreliable, and most methods lacking effectiveness in night scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A nighttime cooperative positioning method using a UAV group with two-dimensional turntable cameras and LED lights, where UAVs are arranged in a rectangular formation, LED lights are set to different colors, and real-time pixel coordinate values are calculated using closed-loop control to maintain formation and avoid collisions, without relying on GPS, laser radar, or external signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If binocular camera is used for vision positioning, then positioning function is achieved, but computation task becomes heavy and night use capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning function from complex binocular vision systems and implements it using simple monocular cameras with LED light markers. By removing unnecessary computational complexity while retaining the essential positioning capability through LED marker detection, the system achieves night positioning with reduced computational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by introducing LED lights as active markers that emit visible light, enabling monocular cameras to detect position markers effectively at night. This parameter change (from passive to active markers) allows the simplified monocular system to achieve positioning functionality that would otherwise require complex binocular systems.
2Measurement precision
If laser pulse ranging is used, then positioning precision is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive laser ranging equipment with inexpensive LED lights and monocular cameras. The LED markers serve as low-cost alternatives to laser transmitters, and the monocular camera system is significantly cheaper than laser ranging equipment, while still achieving adequate positioning precision for UAV formation flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual copying of LED marker positions through camera imaging to determine relative positions, replacing direct laser measurement. This optical copying approach through image processing is much more cost-effective than laser pulse ranging while maintaining sufficient positioning accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If UWB ranging is used, then positioning function is achieved, but stability deteriorates and wireless communication interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wireless electromagnetic communication (UWB) with optical-based vision positioning using cameras and LED markers. This substitution eliminates radio frequency interference issues and improves stability by using line-of-sight optical detection that is not susceptible to wireless communication interference.
4Measurement precision
If ultrasonic ranging is used, then positioning function is achieved, but acquisition speed becomes slow and application scope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasonic acoustic ranging with optical vision-based positioning using cameras and LED markers. Light travels much faster than sound, enabling significantly faster position acquisition speed and broader application scope while maintaining positioning functionality.
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 method simplifies and cost-effectively achieves cooperative positioning among UAVs, maintaining formation and ensuring flight safety without external interference, specifically in nighttime environments.
Implementation Method 1
each of the UAVs including a two-dimensional turntable camera and an LED light
Implementation Method 2
real-time pixel coordinate values of the LED light with color III of the UAV 0 in camera imaging planes of UAVs 1-4
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a nighttime cooperative positioning method based on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) group, falling within the technical field of aircraft navigation and positioning. According to the present disclosure, the cooperative visual positioning and the collision warning for UAVs are realized by means of light colors of the UAVs, respective two-dimensional turntable cameras and a communication topology network, without adding additional equipment and without relying on an external signal source, avoiding external interference. Compared with the positioning method in a conventional manner, in the present disclosure, the system is effectively simplified, and the cooperative positioning among the interiors of a UAV cluster can be realized relatively simply and at a low cost to maintain the formation of the UAV group.