UAV Visual Landing Aid Using Contrasting Geometric Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing landing systems for unmanned aerial vehicles are inadequate due to reliance on GPS positioning, which can fail, or require additional equipment like lasers or radar, and often necessitate human intervention, leading to limited precision and susceptibility to errors or interference.
Innovation Solution
A visual landing aid system using contrasting circles and polygons detectable by a camera-equipped UAV, which allows for autonomous precision landing without GPS or additional equipment, using visible or non-visible light and pulsed light elements for enhanced detection and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS positioning is used for landing, then the system can provide location information, but it is subject to potential loss of satellite signal and requires loading a terrain database which limits precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visual landing aid pattern as an intermediary target that the UAV can detect and lock onto. This pattern serves as a mediator between the UAV's navigation system and the ground, providing a reliable visual reference that does not depend on GPS satellite signals or terrain databases. The pattern is specifically designed to be detectable by the UAV's camera system, creating a direct visual connection for precise landing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified visual copy of location information through the landing aid pattern. Instead of relying on complex GPS coordinates and terrain databases, the system uses a visual pattern that replicates the essential function of location identification. The pattern acts as a visual counterpart to numerical GPS data, providing location information in a form that can be directly perceived and processed by the UAV's vision system for precise positioning.
2Measurement precision
If laser or radar range finding equipment is added to the UAV, then accurate vertical guidance is provided, but additional equipment diminishes payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the visual landing aid pattern provides continuous visual information to the UAV's camera system. This feedback loop allows the UAV to determine its position, orientation, and distance to the landing target by analyzing the pattern's appearance in the camera field of view. The system uses the visual feedback from the pattern to adjust its landing approach without requiring additional active sensing equipment like lasers or radar.
Solution Approach 2:
The landing aid pattern serves the dual function of being both the target and the measurement reference. The passive visual pattern provides all necessary information for the UAV to determine its position and orientation relative to the landing site. The UAV's existing camera system, which would be present anyway for navigation and observation, is sufficient to detect the pattern, eliminating the need for separate active ranging equipment.
3Device complexity
If conventional landing targets are used, then a simple visual reference is provided, but they are subject to false positives and may require special hardware for detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric geometric patterns in the landing aid design. The pattern consists of specific arrangements of shapes and orientations that are unique and easily distinguishable from natural features or other objects in the environment. This asymmetric design creates a distinctive visual signature that reduces false positives, as the specific geometric configuration is unlikely to be naturally occurring or confused with other objects during detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes contrasting colors and visual properties in the landing aid pattern to enhance detectability and reduce false positives. The pattern employs high-contrast color schemes that make it visually distinct from the surrounding environment. By carefully selecting colors and visual characteristics, the system ensures the pattern stands out clearly to the UAV's camera system while maintaining reliability in various lighting conditions and reducing the likelihood of being mistaken for other objects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise, autonomous landing of UAVs by providing a fixed ground reference detectable over a wide range of angles and distances, reducing false positives and equipment failures, and allowing for navigation in various conditions, including low visibility.
Implementation Method 1
The visual landing aid may be implemented using contrasting colors for the pattern which reflect visible and/or UV or infrared light, or by light emitting elements
Implementation Method 2
contrasting colors for the pattern which reflect visible and/or UV or infrared light
Data Source
AI summary
Visual landing aids including a series of contrasting circles and polygons for unmanned aerial vehicles that are capable of being accurately detected over a wide range of angles and distances by an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a camera and shape detection capabilities. The visual landing said may be implemented using contrasting colors for the pattern which reflect visible and/or UV or infrared light, or by light emitting elements. In some examples, the landing aids includes a secondary smaller version of the landing aid shape pattern that is embedded within the larger pattern, to enable greater detection range while facilitating close-in precision guidance. In still further examples, light emitting elements may be pulsed at a rate that is synchronized with the camera shutter on the unmanned aerial vehicle to further enhance accurate detection.