An imaging device 1 without on-board propulsion and capable of autonomous flight for capturing aerial images. The device may be launched from a ground launcher and follow a loop, curved flight course or arcuate flight path of pre-defined radius or radii range. The flight path may have a horizontal levelised component or flattened flight trajectory at maximum height, apogee 33. The device may have sensors providing data to a CPU controller for actuating control surfaces, e.g. elevons (11, figure 2) and capture images at a range of pitch angles using cameras (17). The device may dynamically adapt the flight path during flight and have multiple flight phases, e.g. vertical ascent, image capture phase, vertical descent homing phase. The device may be small, having fixed wings (9) and a power source, e.g. rechargeable battery, fuel cell, or supercapacitor (21). An on-board machine vision module may recognise a homing target 35, e.g. identifiable pattern or signal on an inflatable catcher (37, figure 9) and navigate towards it.
Aerial imaging device and system
13.11.2019
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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