Aerial vehicle touchdown detection
US11726498B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2021 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06N20/10
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique is introduced for touchdown detection during autonomous landing by an aerial vehicle. In some embodiments, the introduced technique includes processing perception inputs with a dynamics model of the aerial vehicle to estimate the external forces and/or torques acting on the aerial vehicle. The estimated external forces and/or torques are continually monitored while the aerial vehicle is landing to determine when the aerial vehicle is sufficiently supported by a landing surface. In some embodiments, semantic information associated with objects in the environment is utilized to configure parameters associated with the touchdown detection process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.