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Autonomous aircraft navigation

  • US 10,401,874 B1
  • Filed: 11/10/2018
  • Issued: 09/03/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2018
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation system, comprising:

  • a camera attached to the UAV positioned to have a downward view;

    an illumination system attached to the UAV positioned to illuminate the view of the camera;

    a payload having a retroreflective payload target on its top side; and

    a targeting system configured to receive images from the camera, locate the payload target in the field of vision of the camera, and transmit navigational instructions to a navigation system,wherein the navigation system receives the navigational instructions and navigates the UAV to the payload;

    wherein the payload target is retroreflective;

    wherein the payload target comprises a plurality of concentric squares of retroreflective material;

    wherein to locate the payload target in the field of vision of the camera the targeting system is configured to;

    identify a plurality of edges in an image;

    identify a quadrilateral shape formed by four edges of the plurality of edges; and

    find the geometric center of the quadrilateral shape.

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