methods and systems to improve the accuracy of autonomous landings by drone aircraft on landing targets

摘要

the present invention relates to methods and systems for guiding an autonomous drone aircraft during the descent to a landing target. the method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring an image using a camera on the drone aircraft of an active fiducial system on the landing target; (b) verify the active fiducial system in the image by comparing the image to a stored model or representation of the active fiducial system; (c) determine a position and / or relative orientation of the drone aircraft to the landing target using image data; (d) use the position and / or relative orientation determined in step (c) to guide the drone aircraft towards the landing target; and (e) repeat steps (a) to (d) several times.