UAV Virtual Un-Zoomed Imaging with Multi-Camera Wide-Angle View

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in capturing both zoomed-in and wide-angle views efficiently due to the limitations of long-focal-length lenses, which are expensive, bulky, and add weight when variable zoom lenses or additional cameras are used for wider fields of view.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that combines images from multiple wider-angle cameras to generate a virtual image, providing a 360-degree field of view while allowing smooth transitions from a zoomed-in to a wide-angle or panoramic view, using image fusion and interpolation techniques to align and blend images accurately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a long-focal-length lens is used to capture zoomed-in images, then the target appears magnified, but the field of view is narrow and the lens becomes bulky and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget magnificationVSAvoidlens bulk and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual wide-angle view by copying and stitching together images from multiple existing wide-angle cameras positioned at different locations on the UAV. This virtual copy replaces the need for a physical variable zoom lens, achieving wide-angle capability without the associated bulk and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the wide-angle cameras serve dual functions: they are used both for UAV navigation and for generating the virtual wide-angle view. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated cameras, reducing overall system complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a variable zoom lens is used to achieve wider field of view, then the FOV increases, but the lens becomes expensive and bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of view rangeVSAvoidlens cost and size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a variable zoom lens to physically change the field of view, the patent creates a virtual wide-angle view by copying and stitching images from multiple fixed wide-angle cameras. This achieves adaptability in field of view without requiring a complex variable zoom mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical variable zoom lens system with a computational image processing system. The field of view adjustment is achieved through software-based image stitching and blending rather than mechanical lens adjustment, eliminating the bulk and cost of the zoom mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If an additional camera with wider FOV is added, then the wide-angle capability is improved, but the UAV weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewide-angle FOV capabilityVSAvoidUAV weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the existing wide-angle navigation cameras serve dual purposes: they are used both for UAV navigation and for generating the virtual wide-angle view. This eliminates the need to add a separate dedicated wide-angle camera, thereby avoiding additional weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the navigation function and the wide-angle imaging function into a single set of cameras. By combining these functions, the system achieves wide-angle capability without the weight penalty of adding separate hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If an additional camera with wider FOV is added, then the wide-angle capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewide-angle FOV capabilityVSAvoidUAV system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11611700B2Unmanned aerial vehicle with virtual un-zoomed imaging

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 SKYDIO INC

AI summary

In some examples, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may control a position of a first camera to cause the first camera to capture a first image of a target. The UAV may receive a plurality of second images from a plurality of second cameras, the plurality of second cameras positioned on the UAV for providing a plurality of different fields of view in a plurality of different directions around the UAV, the first camera having a longer focal length than the second cameras. The UAV may combine at least some of the plurality of second images to generate a composite image corresponding to the first image and having a wider-angle field of view than the first image. The UAV may send the first image and the composite image to a computing device.