Fixed-Camera UAV Position Holding for Still Image Flight Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drones with fixed or manually adjustable cameras face challenges in maintaining a stable camera position and pitch angle during flight, especially in restricted spaces, due to the complexity, weight, and cost of electronically configurable gimbals, which limits their ability to capture high-quality images efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A control system is implemented in the UAV that automatically determines and plans flight paths with specific camera angles, allowing a fixed camera to capture images at predetermined pitch angles for extended times by optimizing flight paths and using a combination of GPS and electronic processors to manage propeller forces for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If electronically configurable gimbals are used to maintain stable camera position and pitch angle, then image capture quality is improved, but device complexity, weight, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gimbal system entirely from the UAV platform, extracting the camera stabilization function from the mechanical domain and relocating it to the control software domain. The fixed camera is kept stationary on the UAV body, and stability is achieved through flight path planning and control rather than mechanical adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical gimbal system is replaced with an electronic control system that uses flight path planning, velocity control, and position holding algorithms to achieve camera stability. The control system substitutes mechanical stabilization with electronic control of UAV motion and camera orientation.
2Manufacturing precision
If electronically configurable gimbles are used to maintain stable camera position, then image capture quality is improved, but device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy gimbal mechanism is completely removed from the UAV system. The camera is fixed directly to the UAV body without any mechanical stabilization components, eliminating the weight penalty associated with gimbal systems while maintaining image capture quality through control-based stabilization.
3Manufacturing precision
If electronically configurable gimbles are used to maintain stable camera position, then image capture quality is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expensive gimbal system is removed from the UAV configuration. By using a fixed camera with software-based stabilization through flight path planning and control algorithms, the patent eliminates the need for costly mechanical stabilization components while maintaining image capture quality.
4Duration of action of moving object
If flight path is optimized for fixed camera at predetermined pitch angle, then image capture time is extended, but flight path complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight path is pre-planned with specific segments dedicated to image capture operations. The control system identifies predetermined pitch angles and calculates optimal flight paths in advance, including velocity reduction and position holding segments, before execution. This preliminary planning enables extended image capture time without requiring complex real-time adjustments during flight.
5Manufacturing precision
If UAV velocity is reduced to hold position for image capture, then image capture quality is improved, but flight time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV reduces velocity only partially and only during specific image capture segments of the flight path, rather than maintaining low velocity throughout the entire flight. The control system applies velocity reduction and position holding only when needed for image capture, then resumes normal flight velocity, thereby minimizing the impact on total flight time while still achieving high-quality images.
Data Source
AI summary
A UAV having a fixed camera (e.g., without a gimbal or having a manually adjustable gimbal), and a control system configured to establish a still camera position at an image capture point for an extended time at a predetermined pitch angle. This implementation allows a camera fixed to the UAV to capture a photo(s) at a pitch angle for a predetermined image capture time, given that there is enough space to obstacles/ground to avoid a crash. The control system plans the optimum flight path for achieving minimal movement for a given position and camera angle.