Collaborative airborne object tracking systems and methods
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method to track airborne objects, comprising:
- receiving, from a first aerial vehicle of a plurality of aerial vehicles;
first location information associated with the first aerial vehicle;
first pose information associated with the first aerial vehicle;
first optical axis information associated with a first imaging device of the first aerial vehicle; and
first imaging data from the first imaging device of the first aerial vehicle;
identifying a first object within the first imaging data;
determining a first pixel location of the first object within the first imaging data;
determining a first optical ray associated with the first pixel location of the first object;
receiving, from a second aerial vehicle of the plurality of aerial vehicles;
second location information associated with the second aerial vehicle;
second pose information associated with the second aerial vehicle;
second optical axis information associated with a second imaging device of the second aerial vehicle; and
second imaging data from the second imaging device of the second aerial vehicle;
identifying a second object within the second imaging data;
determining a second pixel location of the second object within the second imaging data;
determining a second optical ray associated with the second pixel location of the second object;
determining that the first optical ray and the second optical ray intersect with a threshold degree of confidence, such that the first object and the second object are a same object;
determining at least one of a location or a range of the same object relative to at least one of the first aerial vehicle or the second aerial vehicle; and
instructing the at least one of the first aerial vehicle or the second aerial vehicle to navigate to avoid the same object based at least in part on the determined at least one of the location or the range of the same object relative to the at least one of the first aerial vehicle or the second aerial vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods related to identifying locations and/or ranges to objects using airborne imaging devices are disclosed. An object tracking system may include a plurality of aerial vehicles having associated imaging devices and a control station. Information related to positions and orientations of aerial vehicles and associated imaging devices may be received. In addition, imaging data may be received and processed to identify optical rays associated with objects within the imaging data. Further, a three-dimensional mapping of the identified optical rays may be generated, and locations or ranges of the objects relative to the aerial vehicles may be determined based on any intersections of optical rays within the three-dimensional mapping.
15 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method to track airborne objects, comprising:
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receiving, from a first aerial vehicle of a plurality of aerial vehicles; first location information associated with the first aerial vehicle; first pose information associated with the first aerial vehicle; first optical axis information associated with a first imaging device of the first aerial vehicle; and first imaging data from the first imaging device of the first aerial vehicle; identifying a first object within the first imaging data; determining a first pixel location of the first object within the first imaging data; determining a first optical ray associated with the first pixel location of the first object; receiving, from a second aerial vehicle of the plurality of aerial vehicles; second location information associated with the second aerial vehicle; second pose information associated with the second aerial vehicle; second optical axis information associated with a second imaging device of the second aerial vehicle; and second imaging data from the second imaging device of the second aerial vehicle; identifying a second object within the second imaging data; determining a second pixel location of the second object within the second imaging data; determining a second optical ray associated with the second pixel location of the second object; determining that the first optical ray and the second optical ray intersect with a threshold degree of confidence, such that the first object and the second object are a same object; determining at least one of a location or a range of the same object relative to at least one of the first aerial vehicle or the second aerial vehicle; and instructing the at least one of the first aerial vehicle or the second aerial vehicle to navigate to avoid the same object based at least in part on the determined at least one of the location or the range of the same object relative to the at least one of the first aerial vehicle or the second aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method to track objects, comprising:
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receiving, from a plurality of aerial vehicles, imaging data from respective imaging devices of individual aerial vehicles; identifying objects within the imaging data; determining pixel locations of the objects within the imaging data; determining optical rays associated with the pixel locations of the objects; determining that at least two optical rays intersect with a threshold degree of confidence based on at least one of location, pose, or optical axis information associated with individual aerial vehicles; determining that at least two objects associated with the at least two intersecting optical rays are a same object; determining at least one of a location or a range of the same object relative to at least one of the plurality of aerial vehicles; and instructing the at least one of the plurality of aerial vehicles to navigate to avoid the same object based at least in part on the determined at least one of the location or the range of the same object relative to the at least one of the plurality of aerial vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system to track objects, comprising:
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a plurality of aerial vehicles having respective imaging devices; and a control system in communication with the plurality of aerial vehicles and having a processor configured to at least; receive, from the plurality of aerial vehicles, imaging data from respective imaging devices of individual aerial vehicles; identify objects within the imaging data; determine pixel locations of the objects within the imaging data; determine optical rays associated with the pixel locations of the objects; determine that at least two optical rays intersect with a threshold degree of confidence based on at least one of location, pose, or optical axis information associated with individual aerial vehicles; determine that at least two objects associated with the at least two intersecting optical rays are a same object; determine at least one of a location or a range of the same object relative to at least one of the plurality of aerial vehicles; and instruct the at least one of the plurality of aerial vehicles to navigate to avoid the same object based at least in part on the determined at least one of the location or the range of the same object relative to the at least one of the plurality of aerial vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification