Patent · US Active

Unmanned aerial vehicle visual point cloud navigation

US12148316B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
5References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 6, 2021
Grant dateNov 19, 2024
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2042

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 gimballed camera given a position of the UAV relative the point cloud.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.