UAV Simulation Imagery for Control Testing in Varying Conditions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to simulate sensor data for autonomous vehicles in varying environmental conditions due to the difficulty in collecting test data that matches real-world scenarios, limiting the effectiveness of control system performance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving ground truth aerial imagery is used to generate simulated imagery using machine learning models, allowing the simulation of autonomous vehicle operations in different conditions to improve control system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If real-world test data is collected for all possible environmental conditions, then control system performance can be verified across diverse scenarios, but the difficulty and cost of data collection increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system performance verificationVSAvoiddata collection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates synthetic copies of real-world sensor data through simulation environments. Instead of collecting actual sensor data from physical vehicles in diverse conditions, the system generates simulated sensor readings that replicate real-world scenarios, including rare and dangerous conditions. This copying approach verifies control system performance without the complexity and risks of physical data collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a simulation environment as an intermediary between the control system and real-world testing. This intermediary layer generates synthetic sensor data that mediates the verification process, allowing comprehensive performance testing across all possible conditions without direct exposure to real-world risks and complexities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If real-world testing is conducted in dangerous or rare scenarios, then control system robustness can be improved, but safety risks and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system robustnessVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates synthetic copies of dangerous and rare real-world scenarios through simulation. Instead of exposing physical vehicles to hazardous conditions like extreme weather, accidents, or malicious attacks, the system generates replicated sensor data representing these scenarios. This allows robustness verification without any safety risks to physical systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary verification of control system robustness through simulation before real-world deployment. By pre-testing against dangerous and rare scenarios in a virtual environment, the system identifies and corrects vulnerabilities beforehand, preventing potential failures when the vehicle operates in actual dangerous conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive test data covering all environmental conditions is collected, then control system performance across varying states can be verified, but the time and resources required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance across varying environmental statesVSAvoiddata collection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent generates synthetic copies of sensor data representing all possible environmental conditions through simulation. This approach instantly provides comprehensive test coverage across diverse scenarios without the time-consuming process of physically collecting data from each condition. The simulation can rapidly generate unlimited variations of environmental states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary generation of comprehensive test data through simulation before actual control system deployment. By pre-generating all possible test scenarios in a virtual environment, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming sequential data collection from real-world conditions, enabling immediate comprehensive verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12585954B2Performance of autonomous vehicle operation in varying conditions by using imagery generated with machine learning for simulations
Publication Date: 2026.03.24 WING AVIATION LLC
  • US12585954B2 patent drawing
  • US12585954B2 patent drawing
  • US12585954B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for simulating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to improve control system performance is provided. A computing system obtains ground truth aerial imagery for a region that depicts the region during a first state. The computing system determines a route for a simulated UAV within the region. The computing system generates, based on the ground truth aerial imagery, predicted aerial imagery that depicts portions of the region associated with the route. The computing system generates simulated aerial imagery that depicts portions of the region associated with the route during a second state different from the first state by providing the predicted aerial imagery to a machine learning model. The computing system simulates travel of the simulated UAV along the route during the second state by providing the simulated aerial imagery as simulated input to at least one control system of the simulated UAV.