Unmanned aerial vehicle visual point cloud navigation
US11017679B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 2018 |
| Grant date | May 25, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/20
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle flight operations near physical structures or objects. In particular, a point cloud of the physical structure is generated using aerial images of the structure. The point cloud is then referenced to determine a flight path for the UAV to follow around the physical structure, determine whether a planned flight path to desired locations around the structure is possible, determine the fastest route to return home and land from a given position around the physical structure, determine possibility of inflight collision to surface represented in point cloud, or determine an orientation of a fixed or gimbaled camera given a position of the UAV relative the point cloud.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.