Systems and methods for autonomous aircraft navigation are disclosed. Embodiments relate to autonomously navigating an aircraft to a payload by locating a payload target attached to the payload. In some embodiments, the payload target is comprised of a plurality of concentric shapes of retroreflective material. These retroreflective shapes may be quickly identified in images to locate the payload. The retroreflective shapes may be illuminated by a light source on the aircraft so that the payload and the payload target do not requires a power source of their own. Some embodiments use band-filtered light and image acquisition techniques to facilitate locating of the payload target.
Autonomous aircraft navigation
2019-09-03
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | G05D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES , Systeme zum Steuern oder Regeln nichtelektrischer veränderlicher Größen / B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge / B64D Ausrüstung für Flugzeuge , EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT / G06T Bilddatenverarbeitung oder Bilddatenerzeugung allgemein , IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL |
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