Automatic Targeting Technology: Closed-Loop Control for Fully Automated Precise Targeting

    The automatic targeting and fire-extinguishing module of our company’s firefighting robot relies on a "Jet Trajectory Prediction + Visual Servoing" closed-loop control scheme, with a servo-controlled fire monitor, stereo camera, and control unit forming its core architecture. This achieves a technological leap for fire-fighting jet devices—from manual remote control to fully automated precise targeting.

    Automatic targeting technology is based on high-precision 3D coordinate positioning. After obtaining the 3D coordinates of the center point of the fire source’s fuel area, the control unit first uses trigonometric calculations to determine the horizontal angle adjustment required for the servo-controlled fire monitor. It then drives high-precision servo motors to rotate the monitor head horizontally, quickly locking onto the first monitor position to complete precise horizontal targeting. Subsequently, combining real-time updated 3D coordinate data with a jet trajectory function built based on water pressure and outlet flow rate, the system accurately calculates the pitch angle adjustment value and controls the monitor head to rotate vertically to the second monitor position, achieving vertical targeted positioning.

    To address interference in complex outdoor environments, an independently developed impact point detection model is introduced. The stereo camera captures the impact position of the fire-extinguishing agent jet in real time to obtain precise coordinate data. When a deviation is detected between the impact point and the center of the target fuel area, the system immediately calculates the position deviation value and dynamically corrects the fire monitor’s horizontal and pitch angles based on this data. Through a closed-loop feedback mechanism, the jet trajectory is continuously optimized. This innovative trajectory correction mechanism enables the fire monitor to adapt in real time to dynamic changes such as flame movement and environmental wind interference, significantly improving the hit rate of the fire-extinguishing agent.

    Furthermore, driven by high-precision servo motors and combined with the jet trajectory prediction model and visual servo feedback, the fire monitor’s targeting error is controlled within 0.1 degrees, and the fire-extinguishing response time is reduced by 15 seconds—far exceeding the response speed and precision of traditional fire-fighting jet devices. Meanwhile, a modular design is adopted, supporting quick switching between multiple fire-extinguishing agents (such as water, foam, and dry powder). It can be flexibly adapted according to combustible types (e.g., solid, liquid, or electrical fires) to meet fire-extinguishing needs in diverse scenarios such as petrochemicals, warehousing and logistics, and substations. Compared with traditional fire-fighting jet devices with open-loop control, this module completely solves the problems of low efficiency and insufficient precision in manual remote targeting by constructing a "Positioning—Targeting—Detection—Correction" closed-loop control system, realizing the automation of firefighting robot’s fire-extinguishing operations.

    With core advantages of high-precision positioning, dynamic correction, and visual servoing, automatic targeting technology demonstrates great expansion potential in multiple fields. For example, in industries such as automotive manufacturing and furniture painting, it can replace manual operations: the visual servo system precisely positions the spraying surface, and the trajectory prediction model controls the spray gun angle and spray volume—reducing paint waste, improving coating uniformity and yield rate, while lowering the risk of workers being exposed to harmful chemicals. For large-area farmland and orchards, drones or ground robots equipped with automatic targeting systems can identify pest and disease areas via stereo cameras, precisely controlling the direction and dosage of pesticide spraying to avoid contamination of non-target areas, realizing precise application and improving crop protection efficiency and environmental benefits. In scenarios such as aircraft component inspection and spacecraft surface flaw detection, automatic targeting technology can control inspection equipment to perform high-precision scanning and defect positioning on complex curved surfaces, adjusting the inspection angle in real time based on visual feedback—enhancing inspection efficiency and accuracy, and ensuring the safety of aerospace equipment.