Case Studies
Applications of motion capture systems in the development of a target detection and positioning algorithm for aerial manipulator
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
motion capture, aerial manipulator, pose estimation
aerial manipulator

The rapid development of drones in recent years has ushered in various applications including object detection, patrol, and aerial photography. However, they are still unable to physically interact with targets to complete more complex operations. A drone equipped with an articulated robot arm may perform such complex interactions, such as grasping and holding objects.

In most environments, aerial manipulator will require independent information obtaining and processing abilities; namely, the development of a visual system that can accurately and consistently identify and locate a target is a major focus of research. Researchers at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics have designed a visual recognition and positioning algorithm based on the YOLOv5 deep learning object detection model and the RGB-D sensor, which is able to detect objects and estimate their location in real-time as the robotic arm operates.

structure of aerial  manipulator

As the team's existing robotic arm is unable to complete a full in-flight grip control experiment, the researchers tested the target positioning estimation algorithm in a controlled indoor environment with a simplified experiment. Reflective markers were placed on the drone’s camera arm and the target object; the NOKOV motion capture system was used to record the positions of the markers.

Applications of motion capture systems in the development of a target detection and positioning algorithm for aerial manipulator

The NOKOV motion capture system was able to output the locations of both the camera and the target in real time through the world coordinate system. Because the NOKOV motion capture system reaches a sub-millimeter level of accuracy, the data obtained by the system was used to evaluate the accuracy of the drone’s vision system after a form-fitting of cloud data and coordinate conversion. The researchers moved the camera arm in one direction to simulate the movement of the camera during flight, thus testing the overall performance of the positioning algorithm.

Motion capture system output the locations of both the camera and the target in real time.

Bibliography:

[1] Zhang Rui, Wang Yaoyao, Duan Yaqi, Chen Bai. Real-time object detection and location algorithm for aerial manipulator [J]. Journal of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics ,2022, 54(01): 27-33.  DOI:10.16356/j.1005-2615.2022.01.003.

Please Feel Free to Reach Us

  • We are dedicated to assisting you with your inquiries and providing comprehensive information.

    Share your concerns with us, and we will promptly guide you towards the most effective solution.

  • Capture Volume * m m m
  • Objectives to be Tracked *
  • Number of Objectives (optional)
  • Camera Type (optional)
  • Camera Count (optional)
  • Submit
Contact us

Contact us

By using this site, you agree to our terms, which outline our use of cookies. CLOSE ×