scholarly journals An Image-Based Real-Time Georeferencing Scheme for a UAV Based on a New Angular Parametrization

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 3185
Author(s):  
Ehsan Khoramshahi ◽  
Raquel A. Oliveira ◽  
Niko Koivumäki ◽  
Eija Honkavaara

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) of a monocular projective camera installed on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a challenging task in photogrammetry, computer vision, and robotics. This paper presents a novel real-time monocular SLAM solution for UAV applications. It is based on two steps: consecutive construction of the UAV path, and adjacent strip connection. Consecutive construction rapidly estimates the UAV path by sequentially connecting incoming images to a network of connected images. A multilevel pyramid matching is proposed for this step that contains a sub-window matching using high-resolution images. The sub-window matching increases the frequency of tie points by propagating locations of matched sub-windows that leads to a list of high-frequency tie points while keeping the execution time relatively low. A sparse bundle block adjustment (BBA) is employed to optimize the initial path by considering nuisance parameters. System calibration parameters with respect to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and inertial navigation system (INS) are optionally considered in the BBA model for direct georeferencing. Ground control points and checkpoints are optionally included in the model for georeferencing and quality control. Adjacent strip connection is enabled by an overlap analysis to further improve connectivity of local networks. A novel angular parametrization based on spherical rotation coordinate system is presented to address the gimbal lock singularity of BBA. Our results suggest that the proposed scheme is a precise real-time monocular SLAM solution for a UAV.

Author(s):  
E. Tufarolo ◽  
C. Vanneschi ◽  
M. Casella ◽  
R. Salvini

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Open pit mines localized in high mountains are probably one of the most complex environments for Structure-From-Motion (SfM) based photogrammetry. The case study presented in this paper refers to the realization of a detailed topographic mapping in the Torano marble basin (Apuan Alps, Italy) which needed, after decades of excavation activity, a new topographic survey.</p><p>Given the requested very high resolution, the time constraints and safety-related problems, a photogrammetric approach by a fixedwing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was chosen to carry out thesurvey of the basin. In addition, given the morphological complexity of the area, characterized by extreme steep slopes more than hundreds of meters high, and the necessity to minimize the fieldwork without sacrificing the work quality, an UAV equipped with a L1/L2 Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) was used.</p><p>The scope of this work is to compare the accuracy of UAV derived 3D photogrammetric models realized with different approaches: by using traditional Ground Control Points (GCPs), by using the on-board Network Real Time Kinematic system for camera position detection, and a mix of both. At the end, we tested the quality of the models to verify the reachable levels of accuracy.</p>


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2810
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Naus ◽  
Piotr Szymak ◽  
Paweł Piskur ◽  
Maciej Niedziela ◽  
Aleksander Nowak

Undoubtedly, Low-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming more common in marine applications. Equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) receiver for highly accurate positioning, they perform camera and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) measurements. Unfortunately, these measurements may still be subject to large errors-mainly due to the inaccuracy of measurement of the optical axis of the camera or LiDAR sensor. Usually, UAVs use a small and light Inertial Navigation System (INS) with an angle measurement error of up to 0.5∘ (RMSE). The methodology for spatial orientation angle correction presented in the article allows the reduction of this error even to the level of 0.01∘ (RMSE). It can be successfully used in coastal and port waters. To determine the corrections, only the Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) and an image of the coastline are needed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A Hewitt ◽  
Evangelos Boukas ◽  
Martin Azkarate ◽  
Marco Pagnamenta ◽  
Joshua A Marshall ◽  
...  

This paper describes a dataset collected along a 1 km section of beach near Katwijk, The Netherlands, which was populated with a collection of artificial rocks of varying sizes to emulate known rock size densities at current and potential Mars landing sites. First, a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle collected georeferenced images of the entire area. Then, the beach was traversed by a rocker-bogie-style rover equipped with a suite of sensors that are envisioned for use in future planetary rover missions. These sensors, configured so as to emulate the ExoMars rover, include stereo cameras, and time-of-flight and scanning light-detection-and-ranging sensors. This dataset will be of interest to researchers developing localization and mapping algorithms for vehicles traveling over natural and unstructured terrain in environments that do not have access to the global navigation satellite system, and where only previously taken satellite or aerial imagery is available.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 3616
Author(s):  
Stefano Tavani ◽  
Antonio Pignalosa ◽  
Amerigo Corradetti ◽  
Marco Mercuri ◽  
Luca Smeraglia ◽  
...  

Geotagged smartphone photos can be employed to build digital terrain models using structure from motion-multiview stereo (SfM-MVS) photogrammetry. Accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyroscope sensors integrated within consumer-grade smartphones can be used to record the orientation of images, which can be combined with location information provided by inbuilt global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensors to geo-register the SfM-MVS model. The accuracy of these sensors is, however, highly variable. In this work, we use a 200 m-wide natural rocky cliff as a test case to evaluate the impact of consumer-grade smartphone GNSS sensor accuracy on the registration of SfM-MVS models. We built a high-resolution 3D model of the cliff, using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for image acquisition and ground control points (GCPs) located using a differential GNSS survey for georeferencing. This 3D model provides the benchmark against which terrestrial SfM-MVS photogrammetry models, built using smartphone images and registered using built-in accelerometer/gyroscope and GNSS sensors, are compared. Results show that satisfactory post-processing registrations of the smartphone models can be attained, requiring: (1) wide acquisition areas (scaling with GNSS error) and (2) the progressive removal of misaligned images, via an iterative process of model building and error estimation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalev Julge ◽  
Artu Ellmann ◽  
Romet Köök

Unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry is a surveying technique that enables generating point clouds, 3D surface models and orthophoto mosaics. These are based on photos captured with a camera placed on an unmanned aerial vehicle. Within the framework of this research, unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry surveys were carried out over a sand and gravel embankment with the aim of assessing the vertical accuracy of the derived surface models. Flight altitudes, ground control points and cameras were varied, and the impact of various factors on the results was monitored. In addition, the traditional real-time-kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System surveys were conducted for verifications. Surface models acquired by different methods were used to calculate volumes and compare the results with requirements set by Estonian Road Administration. It was found that with proper measuring techniques an accuracy of 5.7 cm for the heights were achieved.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 2318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Štroner ◽  
Rudolf Urban ◽  
Tomáš Reindl ◽  
Jan Seidl ◽  
Josef Brouček

Using a GNSS RTK (Global Navigation Satellite System Real Time Kinematic) -equipped unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could greatly simplify the construction of highly accurate digital models through SfM (Structure from Motion) photogrammetry, possibly even avoiding the need for ground control points (GCPs). As previous studies on this topic were mostly performed using fixed-wing UAVs, this study aimed to investigate the results achievable by a quadrocopter (DJI Phantom 4 RTK). Three image acquisition flights were performed for two sites of a different character (urban and rural) along with three calculation variants for each flight: georeferencing using ground-surveyed GCPs only, onboard GNSS RTK only, and a combination thereof. The combined and GNSS RTK methods provided the best results (at the expected level of accuracy of 1–2 GSD (Ground Sample Distance)) for both the vertical and horizontal components. The horizontal positioning was also accurate when georeferencing directly based on the onboard GNSS RTK; the vertical component, however, can be (especially where the terrain is difficult for SfM evaluation) burdened with relatively high systematic errors. This problem was caused by the incorrect identification of the interior orientation parameters calculated, as is customary for non-metric cameras, together with bundle adjustment. This problem could be resolved by using a small number of GCPs (at least one) or quality camera pre-calibration.


Author(s):  
Lương Ngọc Dũng ◽  
Trần Đình Trọng ◽  
Vũ Đình Chiều ◽  
Bùi Duy Quỳnh ◽  
Hà Thị Hằng ◽  
...  

Giải pháp thành lập bản đồ địa hình bằng thiết bị bay không người lái (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - UAV) đang ngày càng phổ biến ở Việt Nam. Đã có nhiều nghiên cứu chứng minh thiết bị UAV đảm bảo độ chính xác thành lập bản đồ địa hình tỷ lệ lớn, tuy nhiên chưa có các giải pháp cụ thể cho công trình đặc thù dạng tuyến. Mục tiêu nghiên cứu của bài báo là các chế độ bay phù hợp cho công tác khảo sát địa hình các công trình dạng tuyến. Đối tượng thực nghiệm, một đoạn đường bộ thuộc địa phận đê Xuân Quan, Hà Nội, được khảo sát bằng thiết bị UAV Phantom 4 Pro với các chế độ khác nhau trên các phần mềm điều khiển bay có sẵn. Kết quả thực nghiệm các chế độ bay được so sánh với kết quả đo định vị động thời gian thực (Global Navigation Satellite System/Real Time Kinematic - GNSS/RTK) để đánh giá độ chính xác. Nghiên cứu chỉ ra kiểu bay dải phủ trùm, đối với công trình dạng tuyến, thích hợp ở các giai đoạn thiết kế kỹ thuật và thiết kế thi công. Trong khi kiểu bay 2 dải đơn phù hợp và hiệu quả cho các quá trình quy hoạch, đánh giá sơ bộ công trình dạng tuyến.


Author(s):  
L. Teppati Losè ◽  
F. Chiabrando ◽  
F. Giulio Tonolo

Abstract. The estimate of External Orientation (E.O.) parameters for a block of images is a crucial step in the photogrammetric pipeline and the most demanding in terms of required time and human effort, both during the fieldwork and post-processing phases. Different researchers developed strategies to minimize the impact of this phase. Despite the achievement of good results, it was not possible until now to completely cancel the effect of this step. However, the efforts of the researchers in these years have also been devoted to the implementation of direct photogrammetry strategies, in order to almost completely automate the E.O. of the photogrammetric block. These new approaches were made possible also thanks to the latest developments of commercial UAVs, especially in terms of the installed GPS/GNSS (Global Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite System) hardware. The aim of this manuscript is to evaluate the different perspectives and issues connected with the deployment of a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) equipped with a multi-frequency GPS/GNSS receiver. Starting from the considerations mentioned above and leveraging previous works based on a fixed-wing platform, the focus of this contribution is the assessment of the real performances of an RTK multi-rotor platform addressing several questions. Is it possible to generate added-value products with centimetre 3D accuracies without measuring any ground control point? Which are the operational requirements to be taken into account in the planning phase? Are consolidated UAV mapping operational workflows already available to enable a robust direct georeferencing approach?


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jonghyuk Kim ◽  
Jose Guivant ◽  
Martin L. Sollie ◽  
Torleiv H. Bryne ◽  
Tor Arne Johansen

Abstract This paper addresses the fusion of the pseudorange/pseudorange rate observations from the global navigation satellite system and the inertial–visual simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) to achieve reliable navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles. This work extends the previous work on a simulation-based study [Kim et al. (2017). Compressed fusion of GNSS and inertial navigation with simultaneous localisation and mapping. IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, 32(8), 22–36] to a real-flight dataset collected from a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle platform. The dataset consists of measurements from visual landmarks, an inertial measurement unit, and pseudorange and pseudorange rates. We propose a novel all-source navigation filter, termed a compressed pseudo-SLAM, which can seamlessly integrate all available information in a computationally efficient way. In this framework, a local map is dynamically defined around the vehicle, updating the vehicle and local landmark states within the region. A global map includes the rest of the landmarks and is updated at a much lower rate by accumulating (or compressing) the local-to-global correlation information within the filter. It will show that the horizontal navigation error is effectively constrained with one satellite vehicle and one landmark observation. The computational cost will be analysed, demonstrating the efficiency of the method.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Maelckson Bruno Barros Gomes ◽  
André Luis Silva Santos

<p class="04CorpodoTexto">Este artigo tem por objetivo aplicar geotecnologias para obtenção de informações planialtimétricas a fim de avaliar a viabilidade de implantação do campus Centro Histórico/Itaqui-Bacanga do IFMA. Considerando que para realização de levantamento por métodos tradicionais é recomendado que seja realizado o destocamento e a limpeza do terreno previamente, avaliou-se a realização do levantamento planialtimétrico a partir de um par de receptores <em>Global Navigation Satellite System</em> (GNSS) pelo método <em>Real Time Kinematic</em> (RTK) pós processado e também a partir da realização de levantamento fotogramétrico, utilizando aeronave remotamente pilotada (ARP), popularmente conhecida como drone. Esta análise permitiu demonstrar que o aerolevantamento com a ARP pode ser aplicado na concepção inicial de um projeto de engenharia, conforme classificação do Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) para níveis de precisão, pois obteve-se uma diferença orçamentária de 19% entre os projetos elaborados a partir das duas geotecnologias.</p><div> </div>


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