UAV Visual Routing Map for GNSS Failure Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UAVs relying primarily on GNSS-based navigation systems face operational failures due to erroneous or weak GNSS signals, particularly in areas lacking distinctive features like large bodies of water or forests, leading to inaccurate position estimation and potential loss of functionality.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a camera-based navigation system that generates and uses a three-dimensional map with tracking parameters to determine and maintain the UAV's location, allowing it to plan and follow a route to a destination even when GNSS signals are unreliable, by capturing images and identifying features such as buildings, intersections, and bodies of water, and assigning tracking parameters based on feature uniqueness and ease of identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GNSS-based navigation system is used for UAV positioning, then navigation accuracy is improved in open areas, but reliability deteriorates in areas with weak or erroneous GNSS signals such as large bodies of water or forests
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the navigation parameter from GNSS signal-based positioning to camera-based visual feature tracking. By detecting and tracking visual features in the environment, the system maintains reliable navigation in areas where GNSS signals are weak or erroneous, such as over large bodies of water or in forests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (camera-based visual navigation system) that mediates between the primary GNSS navigation system and the UAV's flight control. When GNSS fails, the intermediary visual navigation system takes over to maintain positioning and navigation reliability.
2Reliability
If camera-based navigation system is implemented to backup GNSS failure, then navigation reliability is improved during GNSS failure, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system serves multiple functions: it acts as both a primary visual navigation sensor and a backup system when GNSS fails. The same camera hardware is used for different navigation modes, reducing the need for separate dedicated backup equipment and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the GNSS-based navigation system and camera-based visual navigation system into a unified navigation framework. The control electronics integrate both navigation sources, allowing seamless switching and combined operation, which manages system complexity through consolidation rather than separate independent systems.
3Reliability
If three-dimensional map with tracking parameters is generated to avoid low-tracking areas, then navigation reliability is improved in challenging environments, but loss of information increases due to map generation and tracking parameter assignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating a three-dimensional map of the operating area and pre-assigning tracking parameters to different regions before actual navigation begins. This advance preparation allows the UAV to quickly reference pre-computed tracking quality information during flight, reducing real-time processing requirements and information loss during active navigation.
Data Source
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AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a propulsion system, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensor, a camera and a controller. The controller includes logic that, in response to execution by the controller, causes the UAV to in response to detecting a loss of tracking by the GNSS sensor determine an estimated location of the UAV on a map based on a location image captured by the camera, determine a route to a destination using tracking parameters embedded in the map, wherein the map is divided into a plurality of sections and the tracking parameters indicate an ease of determining a location of the UAV using images captured by the camera with respect to each section, and control the propulsion system to cause the UAV to follow the route to the destination.