UAV Flight Automation with Automatic Obstacle Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aircraft systems require significant user involvement and fail to automatically detect and avoid obstacles during flight planning for capturing high-resolution images, leading to inefficiencies and potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes a hardware processor to generate and execute a flight plan, automatically detecting and avoiding obstacles by using imagery maps, 3D models, and real-time aerial imagery, allowing for minimal user involvement and predicting potential collisions to adjust flight paths and maintain image resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic obstacle detection and avoidance is implemented, then user involvement is reduced and safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by loading an imagery map and identifying obstacles before the flight plan is executed. The controller compares the flight plan with the imagery map to detect potential collisions in advance, allowing the system to prepare avoidance maneuvers without adding complexity during actual flight execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The imagery map serves as an intermediary between the flight plan and obstacle detection. The controller uses this intermediate representation to compare planned flight paths with known obstacle locations, enabling automatic detection and avoidance without requiring complex real-time sensing and processing during flight.
2Reliability
If flight plan is modified to avoid obstacles, then collision safety is improved, but image resolution quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flight plan by modifying elevation parameters when obstacles are detected. The controller calculates alternative flight paths that maintain appropriate distances from obstacles while preserving image capture quality, allowing flexible adaptation without sacrificing either safety or image resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes flight parameters (particularly elevation) to avoid obstacles while maintaining image resolution. By adjusting the Z-coordinate of flight paths and recalculating capture points, the system preserves imaging quality despite route modifications.
3Manufacturing precision
If real-time monitoring and adjustment is performed, then image resolution is maintained, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring elevation changes between the unmanned aircraft and the structure during flight. When deviations are detected, the controller adjusts the zoom lens or flight plan elevation to maintain desired image resolution, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy use by only acting when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the zoom lens's automatic adjustment capability to maintain image resolution without requiring continuous flight path modifications. This self-adjusting mechanism reduces energy consumption by leveraging the camera system's inherent adaptability rather than requiring constant corrective flight maneuvers.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for mission planning, flight automation, and capturing of high-resolution images by unmanned aircraft is provided. The system includes at least one hardware processor including a controller configured to generate and execute a flight plan that automatically detects and avoids obstacles present in a flight path for capturing the high-resolution images, requiring no (or, minimal) user involvement. The system can also predict obstacles in flight paths, and automatically calculate a flight path that avoids predicted obstacles.