UAV Panoramic Imaging Using Navigation Camera Preview Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drones consume excessive power when maneuvering to capture high-quality panoramic images due to the need for multiple positioning adjustments with primary cameras, depleting battery resources quickly.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing navigational cameras to capture a lower-resolution panoramic preview, followed by a gimbal camera to capture a high-resolution panoramic image, reducing unnecessary maneuvers and conserving power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the primary front-facing camera is used to capture panoramic images, then high-quality images can be obtained, but the UAV requires multiple maneuvers to position the camera which depletes battery quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The navigational cameras capture a panoramic preview image before the main panoramic image capture. This preliminary action allows the system to identify the scene and determine the optimal flight plan in advance, reducing the need for multiple positioning maneuvers during actual high-quality image capture, thereby conserving battery power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses navigational cameras to create a lower-resolution copy (preview image) of the scene that suffices for scene identification and flight planning purposes. This copy replaces the need for the primary camera to perform multiple positioning and capture operations, significantly reducing energy consumption while still enabling high-quality image capture when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If the primary camera performs multiple positioning adjustments to capture panoramic images, then complete panoramic coverage is achieved, but the operation time is reduced due to quick battery depletion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanoramic image capture capabilityVSAvoidoperational duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary panoramic capture using navigational cameras to create a preview image that enables scene identification and flight plan generation. This preliminary action reduces the need for multiple positioning adjustments during actual high-quality panoramic capture, extending operational duration while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The panoramic image capture process is segmented into two stages: (1) preliminary low-resolution capture using navigational cameras for scene identification and flight planning, and (2) final high-resolution capture using the primary camera. This segmentation allows the primary camera to remain stationary longer, extending operational duration while maintaining complete panoramic coverage capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the UAV maneuvers frequently to position the primary camera, then accurate image capture is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture accuracyVSAvoidpower loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The navigational cameras perform preliminary panoramic capture to create a preview image used for scene identification and flight plan determination. This preliminary action allows the system to plan the optimal flight path in advance, minimizing the number of positioning maneuvers required during actual high-accuracy image capture, thereby reducing power loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A lower-resolution copy of the panoramic scene is captured by navigational cameras and used for scene identification purposes. This copy replaces the need for the primary camera to perform multiple positioning maneuvers, reducing energy loss while maintaining image capture accuracy when the primary camera is finally positioned.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12545446B2Techniques for previewing and composing panoramic photographs using UAV navigation cameras

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 SKYDIO INC

AI summary

Described herein are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), systems, and methods for capturing panoramic images using cameras onboard a UAV. For example, an embodiment pertains to a UAV including a flight control system, a propulsion system operatively coupled with the flight control system, and an image system comprising navigational cameras and a gimbal camera. The image system is configured to capture a first set of images of a scene using the navigational cameras, stitch the first set of images together to create a first panoramic image of the scene, identify a flight plan for capturing a second set of images with which to create a second panoramic image of the scene using the gimbal camera, capture the second set of images of the scene using the gimbal camera, and stitch the second set of images together to create the second panoramic image.