Systems and methods for reliable relative navigation and autonomous following between unmanned aerial vehicle and a target object

• Main Author: Jourdan Damien Bruno
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.02.2018
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; CONTROLLING; COSMONAUTICS; HELICOPTERS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SIGNALLING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS; TRANSPORTING

A method for navigating an airborne device relative to a target comprises detecting, at an optical detector on the airborne device, an optical signal generated by one or more LEDs on the target. The method also comprises comparing, by a processor on the airborne device, the detected optical signal with a previously-detected optical signal. The method further comprises determining, by the processor based on the comparison, a change in location of at least one of the airborne device or the target. The method also comprises adjusting a position of the airborne device based on the determined change in location. The method also comprises predicting, by the processor, a movement of the target based on information indicative of at least one of a position, a rotation, an orientation, an acceleration, a velocity, or an altitude of the target, wherein the position of the airborne device is adjusted based on the predicted movement of the target. The method also comprises detecting an obstacle in a flight path associated with the airborne device and adjusting a position of the airborne device is further based, at least in part, on detected obstacle information.