UAV Panoramic Imaging Stabilized Carrier Rotation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating panoramic aerial images using UAVs face challenges in precise flight path control, image stabilization, and efficient image processing, leading to poor image quality and increased computational complexity due to sensor inaccuracies and the need for offboard processing.
Innovation Solution
A system where an image capturing device on a UAV is coupled with a carrier that allows rotation around multiple axes, stabilizing the device during image capture and processing images onboard to generate panoramic images without transmitting raw data, reducing vibrations and computational complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the UAV executes a predetermined flight path using sensors (gyroscopes or GPS) for control, then the UAV can capture multiple images along the path, but sensor inaccuracies (zero drift, temperature drift, meter-level GPS error) cause the UAV to deviate from the flight path, making image stitching difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the UAV along a predetermined flight path to capture panoramic images, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the UAV stationary and rotating the image capturing device around the stationary UAV. This eliminates the need for precise flight path control and sensor accuracy, as the rotation is performed by a dedicated rotating mechanism rather than relying on GPS and gyroscope accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If manual remote control is used to achieve the predetermined flight path, then the operator can adjust the flight path, but it becomes difficult to control when the UAV is far from the user
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates autonomously with the image capturing device automatically rotating around the stationary UAV to capture images at predetermined angular intervals. The processing device then automatically stitches these images into a panoramic image, eliminating the need for manual remote control operations and making the system equally effective regardless of distance between the operator and UAV.
3Area of stationary object
If a large collection of images is taken to achieve required spatial adjacency, then complete panoramic coverage can be achieved, but the posture and position of the UAV need frequent adjustment and stabilization, decreasing image quality and increasing computational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The panoramic image capture is segmented into multiple discrete images taken at specific angular intervals during the rotation of the image capturing device. By capturing images at predetermined angular intervals (e.g., every 10-30 degrees) during a complete 360-degree rotation, the system achieves complete panoramic coverage with a manageable number of images, eliminating the need for frequent UAV posture adjustments and reducing computational complexity for stitching.
4Power
If images are transmitted to a ground station for processing, then panoramic images can be generated with more processing power, but this increases data communication traffic and introduces delays between image capture and panoramic image generation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the image capturing device, rotating mechanism, and processing device into an integrated system mounted on the UAV. This allows images to be processed into panoramic images directly on the UAV using the onboard processing device, eliminating the need to transmit large amounts of raw image data to a ground station. The processing time is significantly reduced as panoramic images can be generated in real-time or near-real-time during or immediately after the rotation sequence.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes in response to receiving an instruction for starting a panoramic mode, controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to hover at or near a predetermined location; while the UAV is hovering at or near the predetermined location, causing an image capturing device to capture a plurality of images by controlling a carrier that couples the image capturing device to the UAV to rotate the image capturing device about a first axis of the carrier; and stabilizing the image capturing device against motions with respect to a second axis or a third axis of the carrier while the image capturing device is rotating about the first axis of the carrier.