UAV Target Tracking with Automatic Flight and Camera Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UAV tracking methods require manual control, which becomes difficult when targets are moving quickly or partially obscured, necessitating a dedicated operator for navigation and camera control, increasing costs and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system that receives target information from a remote user, allowing it to automatically or semi-automatically track targets by adjusting its flight path and imaging device, enabling single-user control of both navigation and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tracking control is used by a dedicated user, then the target can be tracked, but the operational cost increases and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV system performs tracking automatically using onboard sensors and processors to detect and follow targets without requiring a dedicated human operator. The system serves itself by autonomously adjusting flight path and camera orientation based on target detection algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical control of tracking is replaced with automated electronic systems including sensors, processors, and control algorithms that detect target positions and adjust UAV navigation and imaging device orientation automatically
2Reliability
If manual tracking control is used, then the target can be tracked, but the ease of operation decreases when target is moving quickly or partially blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV system autonomously handles difficult tracking scenarios by using automated target detection and tracking algorithms that continuously monitor and adjust to target position changes, eliminating the need for manual intervention even when targets move quickly or are partially obscured
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous feedback from onboard sensors and image processing to detect target position and automatically adjusts flight path and camera orientation in real-time, maintaining reliable tracking without requiring operator attention
3Reliability
If a dedicated user controls both navigation and camera, then tracking can be performed, but the productivity decreases due to single-user limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV system autonomously performs both navigation and tracking functions simultaneously without requiring a dedicated human operator, enabling concurrent execution of multiple tasks and improving operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV system integrates multiple functions including navigation, target detection, and tracking into a single automated platform that can perform concurrent operations, replacing the need for separate specialized operators
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods and systems of tracking a target with an imaging device onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method may comprise identifying one or more targets in a first image captured by the imaging device, receiving a user selection of a target to be tracked from the one or more targets in the one or more images, generating target information for the target to be tracked based on the user selection of the target, detecting a deviation of a detected position and/or a detected size of the target in a second image captured by the imaging device from the selected position and/or the selected size of the target in the first image and adjusting at least one of the UAV and the carrier, to reduce the determined deviation to maintain the target substantially within the field of view of the image device, based on the deviation.