UAV Flight Route Mapping With LiDAR Layers for Invisible Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current safety regulations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are inadequate for autonomous flight in invisible areas, such as those with limited visibility due to night, fog, or military security zones, as they rely on pilot visual inspection and cognitive capabilities, which can lead to increased accident risks.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize surface scanning data and image resolution analysis to establish a safe autonomous flight route by extracting height information and correcting radio altitude sensor values, enabling UAVs to navigate through invisible areas by shaping a 3D space into layers and verifying flight paths using LiDAR and imaging devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current safety regulations relying on pilot visual inspection are used, then manned aerial vehicle operations can be conducted with simple equipment, but autonomous flight in invisible areas becomes unsafe due to limited pilot cognitive capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of autonomous flightVSAvoidcomplexity of autonomous flight system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous flight system is segmented into multiple functional modules: surface scanning data acquisition module, image data collection module, altitude extraction module, and route verification module. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the complex system to be managed and verified systematically while ensuring safety in invisible areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting surface scanning data and image data before autonomous flight, extracting altitude information in advance, and verifying the flight route beforehand. This allows the UAV to navigate invisible areas safely by having pre-processed spatial information and verified pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If surface scanning data and image resolution analysis are used to extract altitude information, then accurate altitude determination is achieved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of altitude determinationVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by comparing extracted altitude information from surface scanning data and image resolution analysis with pre-collected spatial information. This feedback mechanism verifies the accuracy of altitude determination and allows for corrections, ensuring measurement precision while systematically managing processing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that transforms raw surface scanning data and image data into extracted altitude information. This intermediary step simplifies the overall processing by creating structured intermediate representations that are easier to work with for route verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If autonomous flight routes are established in invisible areas, then UAVs can operate in densely populated areas and disaster prevention zones, but risk of collision increases without visual inspection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational capability in invisible areasVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary route verification by collecting surface scanning data and image data, extracting altitude information, and validating the flight path before autonomous operation in invisible areas. This advance preparation reduces collision risk by ensuring the route is safe before the UAV begins flight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where extracted altitude information is continuously compared with spatial information and calibration data. This feedback loop verifies the accuracy of the flight route and allows for real-time corrections, reducing collision risk while enabling operation in invisible areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 approach ensures safe and systematic autonomous flight in invisible areas by accurately determining altitude and obstacle heights, minimizing risks of collisions and ensuring compliance with safety regulations, even in conditions where visual inspection is impossible.

Implementation Method 1

obtaining a point cloud of the object onto which a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) pulse is projected via a LiDAR device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Data Source

PatentUS11493940B2Method and system for generating a map for a flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 THINKWARE

AI summary

A method and a system for establishing a route of an unmanned aerial vehicle are provided. The method includes identifying an object from surface scanning data and shaping a space, which facilitates autonomous flight, as a layer, collecting surface image data for a flight path from the shaped layer, and analyzing a change in image resolution according to a distance from the object through the collected surface image data and extracting an altitude value on a flight route.