UAV Vehicle Tracking for Obstacle Imaging Beyond Driver View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers navigating vehicles with limited field of view and vehicle sensors face challenges in safely and efficiently navigating obstacles and features on roads or trails, as these obstacles may not be readily visible and require additional attention.
Innovation Solution
A UAV system operatively connected to the vehicle tracks the vehicle's location and pose, maintaining a predetermined distance and adjusting its flight path to capture images of obstacles, providing additional visual information to the driver through a human-machine interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a driver relies on limited field of view and vehicle sensors to navigate obstacles, then the vehicle can maintain simple operation and low device complexity, but the driver's ability to detect and measure obstacles is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UAV as an intermediary device between the driver and the environment. The UAV is equipped with sensors and cameras to detect obstacles and capture images, then transmits this information to the driver's device. This intermediary system significantly enhances obstacle detection capability without requiring complex modifications to the vehicle itself, as the UAV operates as a separate but connected system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a third dimension to obstacle detection by deploying a UAV that operates in aerial space rather than ground level. This dimensional change provides a broader field of view and enables detection of obstacles that are invisible to ground-based sensors and the driver's limited field of view, thereby improving detection capability while keeping the ground vehicle relatively simple.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the driver uses a broader field of view to navigate terrain, then obstacle detection improves, but the driver's attention and cognitive load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the function of environment monitoring from the driver and assigns it to the UAV system. The UAV captures images and detects obstacles autonomously, then presents processed information to the driver through a device interface. This extraction reduces driver workload by eliminating the need for constant environmental scanning while maintaining comprehensive perception through the UAV's broader field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously transmitting obstacle information and captured images from the UAV to the driver's device. This feedback loop provides the driver with processed, relevant information about the environment without requiring active attention, as the system autonomously monitors and communicates critical data about obstacles and terrain features.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the UAV maintains a predetermined distance from the vehicle to capture images, then the tracking system remains simple, but the UAV cannot capture focused views of specific obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV control system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on detected obstacles. When an obstacle is identified, the system transitions from maintaining a fixed predetermined distance to actively maneuvering the UAV closer to capture focused images. This dynamic control strategy enables the system to switch between simple tracking mode and detailed imaging mode, improving obstacle documentation capability while keeping the base control logic relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary obstacle detection using sensor data before commanding the UAV to maneuver for detailed imaging. This preliminary action allows the system to identify potential obstacles and prepare appropriate imaging actions, ensuring that the UAV captures focused views only when necessary rather than continuously adjusting position, thereby balancing imaging capability with control simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to tracking vehicle movement from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and altering a flight path to capture images of an obstacle. In one embodiment, a method includes 1) tracking a location and a pose of a moving vehicle to which a UAV is operatively connected and 2) controlling the UAV based on the location and the pose of the moving vehicle to fly along a flight path at a predetermined distance relative to the moving vehicle. The method also includes 1) identifying, based on sensor data, an obstacle along a path traveled by the moving vehicle and 2) controlling the UAV to depart from the flight path to capture images of the obstacle.