VTOL Landing Pad Localization Using Scaled Image Templates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles lack efficient and cost-effective methods for automatically locating and aligning with target landing pads, especially in urban air mobility contexts where visual contact is limited and reliance on imaging data is critical.
Innovation Solution
A landing aid system utilizing a processor to receive image data from a camera, altitude data from an altimeter, and template landing pad data from a database, which scales and compares images to localize the target landing pad, providing control inputs for lateral and vertical alignment of the VTOL vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional avionics systems are used for VTOL vehicle landing, then landing control capability is achieved, but system cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a camera to capture optical images of the landing pad and creates a digital representation (copy) of the visual scene. This optical copy is then processed through image recognition algorithms to extract landing pad location and orientation information, replacing the need for complex traditional avionics sensing systems while maintaining landing control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/electronic avionics sensing systems with an optical-based vision system. Instead of using radar, LIDAR, or other active sensing hardware, the system uses passive optical imaging combined with computational algorithms to achieve landing guidance, significantly reducing hardware complexity and cost
2Device complexity
If low-cost avionics solution is used, then cost is reduced, but landing localization accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images of the landing pad area before the VTOL vehicle reaches the final landing phase. This early image capture allows sufficient time for processing and analysis, ensuring accurate localization is achieved well before critical landing moments, compensating for the simpler hardware through advance computational work
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational processing layer between the simple camera input and the landing control system. Image recognition algorithms serve as this intermediary, extracting precise landing pad coordinates and orientation from ordinary camera images, thereby bridging the gap between low-cost hardware and high-precision requirements
3Productivity
If automated image processing is implemented, then landing alignment speed is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image capture and processing actions while the VTOL vehicle is still approaching the landing area, not waiting until the final moment. This advance processing ensures that localization results are ready in time for accurate alignment, reducing critical processing time during the actual landing phase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified digital copies and representations of the landing pad from captured images. Instead of processing full-resolution complex images in real-time, the system generates simplified graphical models or feature-point representations that are computationally lighter to process while still providing accurate alignment information
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a vertical takeoff and landing, VTOL, vehicle having a landing aid and associated methods. The landing aid includes at least one processor is configured to: receive image data from an image capture device, receive altitude data from the altimeter, retrieve template landing pad image data for a target landing pad from the database, scale the template landing pad image data based on the altitude data, compare the scaled template landing pad image data and the image data received from the image capture device to locate the target landing pad therein, thereby providing target landing pad localization data, and control a function of the VTOL vehicle based on the target landing pad localization data.