Unmanned aerial vehicle intelligent dimming illumination system capable of self-adapting to ambient light

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles and intelligent lighting, and particularly relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle intelligent dimming and lighting system self-adaptive to ambient light, which comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle platform, a lighting module, an environment sensing module, a flight state sensing module and an intelligent control and decision module. The intelligent control and decision module fuses environment illumination and unmanned aerial vehicle flight data, and outputs optimal illumination parameters based on a deep reinforcement learning algorithm; and the illumination driving and regulating module accurately controls the brightness and color temperature of the LED light source array of the illumination module and the beam angle of the optical lens group. The environment illumination, the flight state and the task requirement are sensed in real time, and the output brightness, the color temperature and the beam angle of the LED light source array are intelligently adjusted based on the deep reinforcement learning algorithm, so that energy waste caused by fixed-intensity illumination is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of drone and intelligent lighting technology, specifically an intelligent dimming lighting system for drones that adapts to ambient light. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development and widespread application of drone technology, its application areas have expanded from traditional military reconnaissance and aerial photography to many key aspects of civilian industries, such as logistics and transportation, infrastructure inspection, agricultural and forestry plant protection, emergency rescue, and various field operation support. In these scenarios, especially in complex environments with insufficient light at night, efficient, reliable, and adaptable lighting support is crucial, affecting the smooth operation, efficiency improvement, and personnel safety.

[0003] Against this backdrop, the technology of mounting lighting equipment on drone platforms has attracted significant attention. It leverages the aerial maneuverability and wide field of view of drones to overcome the limitations of traditional ground-based lighting equipment. Early on, to meet the localized lighting needs of specific scenarios, engineers combined high-brightness light sources with drones, using high-power LED arrays as the light source. This was achieved through simple on / off control or fixed-intensity output, providing basic lighting once the drone reached the designated airspace. Compared to traditional ground-based mobile lighting towers or handheld searchlights, this early drone-borne lighting system offered significant advantages in deployment speed, coverage flexibility, and the ability to overcome ground obstacles. For example, it could quickly take off and provide immediate high-altitude lighting at emergency rescue sites. Its basic working principle involves using a drone to carry a light source to a preset height and location, directionally illuminating and covering the ground area, effectively expanding the scope and efficiency of lighting operations.

[0004] However, as related technologies develop and application scenarios place increasingly stringent demands on performance indicators, the inherent limitations of early technical solutions at the principle level have gradually become apparent, leading to deep-seated technical contradictions. The core flaw lies in the lack of real-time perception and intelligent response capabilities to dynamic ambient light. Because the operating environment for drones is complex and ever-changing, lighting conditions are constantly shifting due to factors such as time, weather, cloud cover, and surrounding buildings or vegetation. During the transition from dawn to dusk, when cloud cover changes, or when other light sources are present, maintaining optimal fixed-intensity lighting output is difficult. Moreover, this non-adaptive lighting mode brings multiple secondary problems. On the one hand, to ensure visibility under the most unfavorable lighting conditions, the system often operates at maximum or near-maximum brightness. When ambient light improves or the actual required brightness decreases, it results in wasted energy. For drones that rely on onboard batteries, this affects flight time and operating radius, contradicting the actual need for long-term continuous lighting. On the other hand, excessive lighting can cause glare, which can interfere with the visual comfort and safety of operators and affect the accuracy of operations. If the lighting intensity is not increased in time when the ambient light deteriorates, it will lead to insufficient local lighting, reduce work efficiency and increase operational risks. Different tasks have different requirements for lighting brightness, and existing systems are difficult to finely control, resulting in a disconnect between lighting services and actual task requirements. Therefore, this invention provides an intelligent dimming lighting system for UAVs that adapts to ambient light. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, at least one technical problem raised in the background art is solved.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: an adaptive ambient light drone intelligent dimming lighting system of the present invention, comprising: a drone platform, a lighting module, an environmental perception module, a drone flight status and position perception module, an intelligent control and decision-making module, a lighting driving and control module, an energy management module, and a communication and human-machine interaction module.

[0007] The drone platform is equipped with a lighting module, an environmental perception module, a drone flight status and position awareness module, an intelligent control and decision-making module, a lighting drive and control module, an energy management module, and a communication and human-machine interaction module. It provides each module with basic flight payload capacity, power supply interfaces, and data transmission channels. The drone platform has at least four rotor structures, each driven by a corresponding brushless DC motor. The drone platform's fuselage structure is made of carbon fiber composite material to ensure lightweight design and structural strength. The maximum takeoff weight of the drone platform is set to no more than 14 kg.

[0008] The lighting module, fixed below the drone platform or connected to it via a controllable gimbal mechanism, emits light according to instructions from the intelligent control and decision-making module. The lighting module includes an LED light source array, composed of at least 200 high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Each LED has a luminous flux of 200 lumens, a beam angle of 60 degrees, and a continuously adjustable color temperature range between 2700K and 6500K, with a color rendering index (CRI) greater than 85. The LED light source array includes white LEDs and multi-color-temperature adjustable LEDs to achieve independent adjustment of brightness and color temperature. The optical lens assembly comprises a condenser lens and a diffuser lens. The lens assembly is made of optical-grade polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with a light transmittance greater than 92%. The lens assembly utilizes a mechanical transmission mechanism driven by a micro-stepper motor to dynamically adjust the focal length and beam angle, continuously adjusting the beam angle between 15 and 120 degrees. This allows for switching between focused and floodlight modes and provides effective illumination coverage for an area of ​​2000 square meters. The heat dissipation structure includes a heat sink array, heat pipes, and an active cooling fan. The heat sink array is made of high thermal conductivity aluminum alloy with a total heat dissipation area of ​​0.5 square meters. The heat pipes use a copper-water medium to efficiently transfer the heat generated by the LED light source array to the heat sink. The active cooling fan has a rated airflow of 20 cubic feet per minute and integrates a temperature control switch to ensure that the temperature of the LED light source array remains within a safe range under long-term high-power operation, preventing light decay and shortened lifespan. The weight-reduction and safety protection structure utilizes an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy frame and a high-strength polymer shell, with the overall weight strictly controlled to within 250 grams. The safety protection structure includes a built-in emergency airbag system that automatically inflates and deploys within 50 milliseconds upon detecting separation of the lighting module from the drone platform or abnormal fall acceleration, to cushion the impact and minimize potential damage from the fall.

[0009] An environmental sensing module, fixed to the top of the UAV platform or lighting module, is used to collect ambient light and weather parameters in real time. The environmental sensing module includes: A multispectral ambient light sensor array, consisting of at least three photodiodes, each responding to visible, near-infrared, and ultraviolet light respectively. The visible light sensor has a dynamic measurement range of 0.01 lux to 100,000 lux and a measurement accuracy of ±2%. The sensor array is arranged in a ring to capture ambient light intensity and color temperature information from different directions. Rain gauges use a capacitive principle to detect rainfall intensity in real time, with a measurement range of 0.5 mm / hour to 100 mm / hour. The haze and visibility sensor uses the principle of laser scattering. It assesses the concentration of particulate matter and visibility in the air by measuring the scattering intensity of laser light at a specific wavelength. Its measurement range is from 0 meters to 5000 meters. The temperature and humidity sensor utilizes integrated MEMS technology, measuring a temperature range of -40°C to 85°C with an accuracy of ±0.5°C; and a humidity range of 0%RH to 100%RH with an accuracy of ±3%RH. Data collected by the environmental sensing module is transmitted to the intelligent control and decision-making module via a serial peripheral interface (SPI) or I2C bus.

[0010] The UAV flight status and position awareness module, integrated into the UAV platform, is used to acquire real-time flight data of the UAV. This module includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, which supports multiple systems including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo, and can provide position accuracy better than 1 meter and velocity accuracy better than 0.1 meters per second. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) includes a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope. Its update frequency is 200Hz. It is used to measure the attitude, angular velocity and linear acceleration of the UAV, and the data is fused through the Kalman filter algorithm to improve the measurement accuracy. A barometric altimeter, with a measuring range of -500 meters to 9000 meters and an accuracy of ±0.1 meters, is used to provide relative altitude information; and: A laser rangefinder sensor, mounted on the bottom of the drone, has a measurement range of 0.1 meters to 100 meters and an accuracy of ±0.05 meters, providing precise altitude information for the drone. Data collected by the drone's flight status and position awareness module is transmitted to the intelligent control and decision-making module via a CAN bus.

[0011] The intelligent control and decision-making module, integrated into the UAV platform, is the core control unit of this invention. The intelligent control and decision-making module includes: The main processor is a high-performance embedded system-on-a-chip (SoC) with a built-in ARM Cortex-A72 quad-core processor with a main frequency of 1.8GHz and 4GB DDR4 memory to provide powerful data processing and algorithm execution capabilities. The data fusion and preprocessing unit receives raw data from the environmental perception module and the UAV flight status and position perception module, performs operations such as time synchronization, outlier filtering, calibration correction, and unit conversion, and forms a unified format environmental and flight status dataset. Data fusion employs the extended Kalman filter algorithm to fuse multi-source heterogeneous sensor data, improving data accuracy and robustness. The environmental context analysis module uses a fuzzy logic inference engine to build a real-time environmental model based on the fused data. The environmental model includes assessments of current light intensity levels, light uniformity, color temperature, and weather conditions. For example, when the ambient light intensity is below 10 lux and visibility is below 500 meters, the system will identify it as a "dense fog and dim visibility" environmental context. The task requirement parsing module parses the current lighting task type and its corresponding core lighting requirements based on the user's operation commands input through the communication and human-computer interaction module or a preset task configuration file. These requirements include parameters such as target illuminance, target color temperature, shape and range of the lighting area, and glare tolerance. The task configuration file is stored in non-volatile memory in XML format. The core of the adaptive lighting algorithm is based on a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) model, trained using a policy gradient algorithm. The DRL model takes the environmental context, mission requirements, UAV flight status, and current energy reserves as input, and outputs an optimal set of lighting parameters, including the total luminous flux of the LED light source array, the power distribution of LEDs in each area, the focal length and beam angle of the optical lens group, and the LED color temperature. The objective function of the DRL model comprehensively considers the illuminance uniformity, average illuminance deviation, energy consumption, and glare index of the target area, aiming to maximize energy efficiency and reduce glare while meeting mission requirements. The energy optimization management module works in conjunction with the adaptive lighting algorithm core to dynamically adjust the drive current of the LED light source array to minimize overall power consumption while ensuring lighting effects. When the drone's battery level falls below a preset threshold, the module will notify the adaptive lighting algorithm core to prioritize energy efficiency, which may involve moderately reducing the illuminance in non-critical areas or shortening the high-brightness output time. The safety and anomaly handling module monitors the operational status of each system component, drone flight parameters, and battery health in real time. When conditions such as battery over-discharge, LED overheating, sensor malfunction, communication interruption, or abnormal drone attitude are detected, the module will trigger preset emergency response strategies, such as automatically switching to low-power lighting mode, issuing audible and visual alarms, or guiding the drone to execute an automatic return-to-home command.

[0012] The lighting drive and control module, connected between the intelligent control and decision-making module and the lighting module, converts the lighting parameters output by the intelligent control and decision-making module into specific control signals for the LED light source array, optical lens group, and heat dissipation structure. The lighting drive and control module includes: The LED driver employs a multi-channel constant current source design, supports pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming, and boasts a 12-bit dimming resolution, enabling linear brightness adjustment from 0% to 100%. It supports I2C or SPI communication protocols, allowing independent control of the current output and color temperature of each or every group of LEDs in the LED light source array. The motor controller integrates a stepper motor driver chip for precise control of the miniature stepper motors in the optical lens assembly, enabling dynamic adjustment of focal length and beam angle. The motor controller receives commands via a CAN bus, achieving a control accuracy of 0.1 degrees. The fan speed controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the active cooling fan based on feedback from temperature sensors within the heat dissipation structure, using a PID control algorithm to maintain optimal heat dissipation.

[0013] The energy management module, connected to the main power system of the UAV platform, provides a stable and efficient power supply for the various modules involved in this invention. The energy management module includes a high-capacity lithium polymer (LiPo) battery pack with a rated voltage of 22.2 volts and a total capacity of 20,000 mAh, capable of supporting continuous operation of the lighting system at maximum power output for at least 3 hours. The Battery Management System (BMS) is responsible for managing the battery pack's charging, discharging, overcurrent, short circuit, and temperature protection, as well as balancing the battery capacity and providing accurate estimates of the battery's remaining charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH). A high-efficiency DC-DC converter array, comprising multiple isolated and non-isolated DC-DC converters with conversion efficiencies exceeding 95%, is used to convert the battery pack voltage to the stable voltage levels required by each module and to provide a stable high-current power supply for the LED driver. The external power interface supports 100-240V AC input or 24V-48V DC input. When an external power source is connected, the AC-DC converter or DC input interface will prioritize powering the entire system while simultaneously charging the battery pack to achieve continuous 24-hour uninterrupted lighting operation. The external power interface features an industrial-grade waterproof aviation plug design to ensure reliable connection in harsh environments.

[0014] The communication and human-computer interaction module enables information exchange and control between the user and the invention. The communication and human-computer interaction module includes: The wireless communication unit supports dual-band frequency hopping spread spectrum technology at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz, with a communication distance of up to 5 kilometers. It also supports 4G / 5G cellular network communication as a backup channel for remote control, real-time data backhaul, and high-definition video streaming. The wired remote controller uses a USB Type-C interface or a dedicated aviation plug to connect to the drone platform via a wired connection, providing ultra-low latency control. The controller features an ergonomic one-handed design, integrating a joystick, multi-function buttons, and a small OLED display screen. The screen displays key system parameters in real time, such as current illumination, remaining battery power, and mode status. The controller has a quick mode switch button, allowing users to quickly switch between "Automatic Mode," "Manual Brightness Adjustment," "Manual Color Temperature Adjustment," and "Emergency Lighting Mode." The Ground Control Station (GCS) software runs on a standard computing device and connects to the UAV platform via a wireless communication unit. The GCS software provides a graphical user interface for advanced functions such as mission planning, fine-tuning of lighting parameters, real-time data monitoring, historical data analysis, and firmware upgrades.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. This invention discloses an adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). By sensing ambient light, flight status, and mission requirements in real time, and based on a deep reinforcement learning algorithm, the system intelligently adjusts the output brightness, color temperature, and beam angle of the LED light source array, avoiding energy waste caused by fixed-intensity lighting. When ambient light is sufficient or the required brightness for the mission is low, the system can automatically reduce power output, thereby significantly extending the UAV's loiter time and significantly improving the onboard battery's endurance. It can achieve at least 3 hours of continuous lighting and support 24-hour uninterrupted operation through an external power interface. This directly solves the contradiction of high energy consumption and short endurance in existing technologies. By dynamically adjusting lighting parameters based on the environment (such as fog, rain, or snow), the work area (such as water), and the type of task—for example, reducing water reflection during water search and rescue, adjusting color temperature to enhance penetration in dense fog, or reducing glare in densely populated areas—the system ensures uniform, sufficient, and glare-free illumination of the work area. The dynamic adjustment capability of the optical lens group allows for stepless switching from focused to floodlighting, meeting the lighting needs of different work surfaces. Through precise control of illuminance, color temperature, and beam angle, the system provides superior visual comfort and operational accuracy compared to traditional systems, while reducing operational risks. By integrating multimodal environmental perception and intelligent control and decision-making modules, the system is endowed with deep perception and intelligent decision-making capabilities for complex and ever-changing environments. This enables the lighting system to autonomously respond to environmental changes and task requirements without frequent manual intervention, greatly reducing the burden on operators. Users can perform simple operation via wired remote control or advanced task settings via ground control station software. The deployment process can be completed within 3 minutes, and the operation is convenient and requires no professional certification. By integrating a lightweight and safety-protected structure into the lighting module, the overall weight of the structure is strictly controlled to within 250 grams. Equipped with an emergency cushioning airbag system, it minimizes the risk of damage in extreme fall scenarios, enhancing the safety of aerial operations. The system also features comprehensive energy management and safety anomaly handling mechanisms, monitoring the status of each component and battery health in real time to ensure stable and reliable operation under various working conditions. The drone platform features a lightweight and compact design, weighing less than 14 kg, and its folded size makes it easy for a single person to carry and transport by ordinary vehicles. The lighting module, combined with the drone's aerial mobility, allows for rapid deployment and adjustment of the lighting area. A single drone can provide an effective lighting range of over 2000 square meters and can move flexibly along the work surface, overcoming the limitations of traditional ground lighting equipment in terms of terrain, deployment speed, and coverage. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural framework diagram of the adaptive ambient light UAV intelligent dimming lighting system of the present invention; In the diagram: 1. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform; 2. Lighting module; 3. Environmental perception module; 4. UAV flight status and position perception module; 5. Intelligent control and decision-making module; 6. Lighting drive and regulation module; 7. Energy management module; 8. Communication and human-machine interaction module. Detailed Implementation

[0018] This invention provides an adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aiming to address the technical challenges of existing UAV-borne lighting systems, such as insufficient response to lighting demands in complex dynamic environments, low energy efficiency, and unsatisfactory lighting effects and operational safety. This system integrates multi-dimensional environmental perception, high-precision flight data acquisition, intelligent decision control, efficient and precise lighting regulation, and an integrated energy management strategy to construct a comprehensively optimized lighting solution, ensuring optimal and efficient lighting services in various complex operational scenarios. The following will be combined with the appendix... Figure 1 The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can fully understand and implement the present invention.

[0019] In one specific embodiment, the adaptive ambient light UAV intelligent dimming lighting system of the present invention comprises an overall architecture including a UAV platform 1, a lighting module 2, an environmental perception module 3, a UAV flight status and position perception module 4, an intelligent control and decision-making module 5, a lighting drive and control module 6, an energy management module 7, and a communication and human-machine interaction module 8. These modules work closely together to form a fully functional intelligent system.

[0020] Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Platform 1 serves as the physical carrier and power core of the entire system. Its design aims to provide stable and reliable flight capabilities, ample payload capacity, and the physical space and interfaces required to integrate all functional modules. UAV Platform 1 employs an advanced quadcopter configuration, with each rotor independently driven by a high-performance brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, ensuring excellent flight stability and maneuverability. The motor has a rated power of 900 watts and a maximum thrust of 5.5 kg, providing a total of 22 kg of redundant lift in the quadcopter configuration to handle a maximum takeoff weight of 14 kg, while also providing sufficient safety margin to cope with wind resistance or other external interference. The rotor blades are made of high-strength carbon fiber composite material, with a design efficiency of 85% at cruise speed. The main fuselage structure of UAV Platform 1 is also entirely manufactured using a one-piece molded high-modulus carbon fiber composite material. By integrating a honeycomb sandwich structure in key stress areas, it achieves extreme lightweighting while significantly improving structural rigidity and impact resistance. Its tensile strength reaches 2000 MPa, and its energy density reaches 300 joules / gram. To facilitate transportation and rapid deployment, the UAV platform 1 is designed to be foldable. Its external dimensions in the fully folded state are strictly controlled to within 0.50 meters (length) × 0.38 meters (width) × 0.29 meters (height), allowing for easy carrying by a single person and fitting into the trunk of a standard vehicle, greatly improving the system's mobility. The UAV platform 1 provides standardized power supply interfaces for the lighting module 2, environmental perception module 3, UAV flight status and position perception module 4, intelligent control and decision-making module 5, lighting drive and control module 6, energy management module 7, and communication and human-machine interaction module 8. These interfaces include 5V, 12V, and 24V regulated DC power supplies, as well as high-speed data transmission channels such as Ethernet, CAN bus, and SPI / I2C bus, ensuring efficient interconnection and data exchange between the modules.

[0021] The lighting module 2, as the main functional execution unit of this system, is responsible for emitting adjustable light according to the instructions of the intelligent control and decision-making module 5. The lighting module 2 can be fixed below the UAV platform 1, or connected to the UAV platform 1 via a three-axis stabilized gimbal mechanism. This gimbal mechanism uses a high-precision brushless DC torque motor drive, possessing an attitude control accuracy of ±0.01 degrees, enabling precise adjustment and stabilization of the lighting direction during flight, compensating for the influence of UAV attitude changes on the beam direction. The lighting module 2 includes the following core components: First, there is the LED light source array, which consists of at least 200 individually controllable high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs) densely arranged in a rectangular or circular array. Each LED is a latest-generation high-power packaged product, with a single-chip luminous flux of up to 200 lumens (lm) and a luminous efficacy of up to 180 lumens / watt driven by its rated current. The emission angle is optimized to 60 degrees to ensure good spot coverage at different heights. The array includes cool white LEDs (color temperature 6000K–6500K), warm white LEDs (color temperature 2700K–3000K), and tunable color temperature LEDs (achieved through mixing red, green, blue, and amber LED chips). By precisely controlling the drive current of different types of LEDs, continuous and stepless spectral adjustment can be achieved within a wide color temperature range of 2700K to 6500K to adapt to various environmental and task requirements, such as lowering the color temperature to improve light penetration in hazy weather, or providing high color temperature illumination when high-contrast observation is required. All LEDs have a color rendering index (CRI) greater than 85, ensuring accurate color reproduction of the illuminated object, which is crucial for tasks such as search and rescue and reconnaissance.

[0022] Secondly, there is the optical lens assembly, which is crucial for dynamically adjusting the illumination mode. The lens assembly consists of a set of movable condensing lenses and a set of movable scattering lenses, made of aerospace-grade optical polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This material boasts excellent light transmission performance, with a transmittance greater than 92% in the visible light band, while also exhibiting good weather resistance and impact resistance. The lens surface is treated with a multi-layer anti-reflective coating (ARcoating) to further reduce light loss and suppress stray light. The focal length and beam angle of the lens assembly are dynamically and steplessly adjusted via a precision mechanical transmission mechanism driven by a set of miniature high-precision stepper motors. This mechanical transmission mechanism includes a ball screw, linear guide, and reduction gear set, achieving a positioning accuracy of 0.01 mm. Through precise control by the stepper motors, the beam angle can be continuously adjusted between 15 degrees (achieving high focusing for long-distance detection or precise illumination in small areas) and 120 degrees (achieving wide beam coverage for large areas). For example, at a height of 30 meters, the 15-degree focused beam mode can form a circular spot of light with a diameter of approximately 8 meters, while the 120-degree floodlight mode can effectively cover an area with a diameter of approximately 100 meters, thus achieving effective lighting coverage for an area exceeding 2,000 square meters. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to flexibly adapt to work areas of different sizes, shapes, and distances.

[0023] Furthermore, the heat dissipation structure is crucial for ensuring the long-term stable and efficient operation of the LED light source array and extending its lifespan. The heat dissipation structure employs a composite design, including: a heat sink array made of high thermal conductivity aluminum alloy (e.g., AL6063-T5), whose surface area is maximized through microfin design, achieving a total effective heat dissipation area of ​​0.5 square meters; high-performance copper-water dielectric heat pipes, which utilize a sintered powder wicking structure with extremely high effective thermal conductivity (exceeding 10,000 W / m·Kelvin), enabling rapid and efficient transfer of heat generated by the LED light source array from the chip package to the heat sink array located away from the light source; and an active cooling fan with a highly reliable dual ball bearing structure, a rated airflow of 20 cubic feet per minute (approximately 0.57 cubic meters per minute), and an integrated high-precision NTC thermistor as a temperature sensor. Combined with a temperature control switch or PWM speed controller, the fan speed is dynamically adjusted based on the real-time temperature of the LED array (e.g., monitored in real-time by the built-in DS18B20 temperature sensor). When the LED junction temperature reaches a preset threshold (e.g., 60 degrees Celsius), the fan starts and strives to keep the LED array temperature below 70 degrees Celsius to avoid overheating that would accelerate LED light decay, color drift, and significantly shorten lifespan. This ensures that the LED light source array can maintain more than 90% of its rated lifespan even at maximum power output.

[0024] Finally, the weight reduction and safety protection structure is designed to balance system lightweighting with safety in extreme conditions. The main frame uses an aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum alloy skeleton, precision CNC machined to ensure high strength with extremely light weight. The outer shell uses high-strength, weather-resistant polymer materials (e.g., PA66+GF30, 30% glass fiber reinforced nylon) and is manufactured using injection molding, providing excellent environmental adaptability and a dust and water resistance rating (IP67). The entire lighting module's structural weight is strictly controlled to within 250 grams to minimize stress on the drone's payload. The safety protection structure also innovatively integrates a built-in emergency airbag system, consisting of a miniature high-pressure gas generator, a rapid inflation valve, and a foldable, tear-resistant nylon airbag. The system integrates a high-precision triaxial accelerometer and altimeter. When the sensors detect unexpected separation of the lighting module from the drone platform (e.g., connector breakage) or abnormal fall acceleration (e.g., instantaneous acceleration greater than 10G), it can rapidly trigger the gas generator within an extremely short 50 milliseconds, causing the airbag to automatically inflate and deploy. The deployed airbag has a volume of up to 5 liters, effectively cushioning the impact of the falling lighting module and absorbing up to 90% of the impact energy, thereby minimizing damage to the lighting module itself and the potential hazards that the fall may cause to people or property on the ground.

[0025] The environmental sensing module 3, typically mounted on top of the UAV platform 1 or the lighting module 2, is used to collect real-time and comprehensive ambient light and weather parameters of the work area. The environmental sensing module 3 includes: A multispectral ambient light sensor array, composed of at least three high-performance photodiodes, is specially filtered to exhibit high sensitivity in visible light (wavelength range 400-700nm), near-infrared light (wavelength range 700-1000nm), and ultraviolet light (wavelength range 280-400nm). The visible light sensor employs a high-precision digital illumination sensor chip (e.g., BH1750FVCI or TSL2591), with an extremely wide dynamic measurement range from 0.01 lux (1k, faint starlight) to 100,000 lux (strong sunlight), achieving a measurement accuracy of ±2%, ensuring accurate acquisition of light intensity in various environments ranging from extremely dark to extremely bright. The sensor array is arranged in a ring, evenly distributed at 30-degree intervals, comprising a total of 12 independent sensors. This allows for the capture of ambient light intensity, incident angle, and color temperature information from different directions, providing comprehensive ambient light context for the intelligent control and decision-making module 5.

[0026] The rain gauge employs an advanced capacitive principle, with its sensing surface coated with a hydrophobic layer. It can detect rainfall intensity in real time with high sensitivity, measuring from 0.5 mm / hour (light rain) to 100 mm / hour (heavy rain). Its output signal is processed by a microcontroller and converted into accurate rainfall rate data.

[0027] The haze and visibility sensor uses the principle of laser scattering. It emits a specific wavelength of laser light (e.g., 940nm infrared laser) into the air and measures the intensity of the light scattered back by airborne particulate matter (such as PM2.5 and PM10) to assess the concentration of particulate matter and visibility in the air. Its effective measurement range is from 0 meters (extremely low visibility) to 5000 meters (good visibility), and it uses a built-in algorithm to convert the scattering data into international standard visibility units.

[0028] The temperature and humidity sensor utilizes integrated MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology, featuring small size, low power consumption, and fast response. Its temperature measurement range is -40°C to 85°C with an accuracy of ±0.5°C; its humidity measurement range is 0%RH to 100%RH (relative humidity) with an accuracy of ±3%RH. This data is crucial for assessing the impact of the environment on lighting effects (e.g., the impact of high temperatures on LED efficiency, light refraction and scattering under high humidity). All data collected by the environmental sensing module 3 is transmitted at a frequency of 10Hz to the intelligent control and decision-making module 5 for further processing via a high-speed serial peripheral interface (SPI) or I2C bus protocol.

[0029] The UAV flight status and position awareness module 4 is integrated into the core flight control system of the UAV platform 1, and is used to acquire real-time flight data of the UAV at high frequency and high precision. Module 4 includes: The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver supports parallel reception from multiple systems, including GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China), and Galileo (EU). Employing RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) or PPK (Post-Processed Kinematic) technology, it provides horizontal position accuracy better than 1 meter (RMS, root mean square error) and velocity accuracy better than 0.1 meters per second. This ensures precise positioning and path tracking capabilities for UAV operations.

[0030] The Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is fundamental to the attitude and motion perception of a UAV. It integrates a high-precision three-axis accelerometer (measurement range ±16g, 16-bit resolution) and a three-axis gyroscope (measurement range ±2000 dps, 16-bit resolution). The IMU updates at a frequency of up to 200Hz, used for real-time measurement of the UAV's attitude (roll, pitch, yaw), angular velocity, and linear acceleration. IMU data is fused with other sensor data (such as GNSS) through an internal Kalman filter algorithm to effectively suppress noise and correct sensor drift, thereby improving attitude measurement accuracy to ±0.1 degrees and angular velocity measurement accuracy to ±0.05 degrees / second.

[0031] The barometric altimeter, employing a high-resolution MEMS barometric sensor (e.g., BMP388), measures from -500 meters to 9000 meters with an accuracy of ±0.1 meters, providing precise barometric altitude information for the UAV relative to sea level. This data is fused with GNSS altitude data, further improving the accuracy of vertical positioning.

[0032] A laser rangefinder sensor, mounted at the center of the drone's bottom, employs a high-precision Time-of-Flight (ToF) principle, with a measurement range of 0.1 meters to 100 meters and an accuracy of ±0.05 meters. It provides the drone's precise relative altitude above the ground, crucial for tasks requiring near-ground operations or terrain-following lighting. All data collected by the drone's flight status and position awareness module 4 is transmitted to the intelligent control and decision-making module 5 via a high-bandwidth, high-reliability CAN bus (Controller Area Network) at a frequency of 100Hz.

[0033] The intelligent control and decision-making module 5, integrated into the central processing unit of the UAV platform 1, is the core control and intelligent decision-making unit of this invention. Module 5 is designed to receive, process, and fuse multi-source heterogeneous data to perform complex environmental analysis, task parsing, and adaptive lighting decisions. Module 5 includes: The main processor is a high-performance embedded system-on-chip (SoC), such as the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX series. It features a powerful quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor with a clock speed of up to 1.8GHz, along with a 512-core NVIDIA Volta GPU and 64 Tensor Cores, providing extremely powerful data processing and parallel computing capabilities, especially suitable for running complex deep learning models. This SoC is equipped with 4GB of LPDDR4x memory and a data transfer rate of 68GB / s, ensuring smooth high-concurrency data processing and algorithm execution. The data fusion and preprocessing unit is the foundation of intelligent decision-making. It is responsible for receiving raw sensor data from the environmental perception module 3 (via SPI / I2C) and the UAV flight status and position perception module 4 (via CAN bus). In this unit, time synchronization is performed first, with all sensor data being timestamped uniformly. Next, outlier filtering is performed, using statistical methods (e.g., moving average, three-standard-deviation criterion) to identify and remove abnormal data caused by sensor malfunctions or transient interference. Then, calibration is performed, applying preset sensor calibration parameters to eliminate systematic errors inherent in the sensors. Finally, unit conversion is performed, unifying all data to standard units of measurement to form a high-precision, highly robust environmental and flight status dataset. The core of the data fusion employs the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm, which can perform real-time, nonlinear fusion of data from GNSS, IMU, barometer, and laser rangefinders. This effectively estimates the UAV's three-dimensional position, velocity, and attitude, significantly improving the accuracy and robustness of each sensor's data, especially providing reliable estimates even when a single sensor signal is damaged or interfered with.

[0034] The environmental context analysis module, based on fused environmental data, constructs a real-time environmental model using a built-in fuzzy logic inference engine. This model qualitatively and quantitatively assesses the current work area's light intensity level (e.g., categorized by lux value as: extremely dark <10 lx, dim 10–100 lx, slightly bright 100–500 lx, normal 500–2000 lx, bright >2000 lx), light uniformity, color temperature distribution, and weather conditions (e.g., sunny, cloudy, light rain, moderate rain, heavy fog, haze, snow). For example, when visible light intensity is below 10 lux, visibility is below 500 meters, and humidity is above 90% RH, the system will identify it as a "heavy fog / dim" environmental context using a fuzzy logic rule base, while simultaneously assessing fog droplet density and light penetration.

[0035] The task requirement parsing module is responsible for understanding and translating the user's lighting intentions. Based on user input via communication and human-machine interaction module 8 (e.g., selecting "search and rescue mode" via remote control) or preset task configuration files (stored in XML format in non-volatile NAND flash memory, e.g., "Nighttime Fieldwork.xml"), it parses the current lighting task type and its corresponding core lighting requirements. These requirements include, but are not limited to: target illuminance (e.g., 200 to 500 lux for precision work); target color temperature (e.g., 4000K for general work lighting to improve focus, 3000K for campground ambient lighting, 6000K for search and rescue to enhance contrast); shape and range of the lighting area (e.g., circular floodlight with a radius of 20 meters; rectangular spotlight, 10 meters × 20 meters); and glare tolerance parameters (e.g., UGR < 19 for comfort, UGR > 25 for unacceptable). The core of the adaptive lighting algorithm is the intelligent engine that enables intelligent dimming in this system. It is built on a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) model, specifically employing an Actor-Critic architecture, and uses policy gradient algorithms (such as Proximal Policy Optimization, PPO) for both offline and online training. The DRL model takes a high-dimensional state vector as input, which includes: environmental context (illuminance level, color temperature, visibility, weather type), task requirements (target illuminance, color temperature, region, glare requirements), UAV flight status (altitude, horizontal speed, tilt angle), current lighting module output parameters, and real-time energy reserve information provided by the energy management module 7 (remaining battery power SoC, power output limits). The DRL model outputs an optimal set of lighting parameters through its pre-trained neural network (e.g., a combination of multi-layer LSTM and fully connected layers), including the total luminous flux of the LED light source array (expressed as a percentage), the power distribution of LEDs in each region (e.g., 80% power in the center region and 20% power in the edge region), the focal length and beam angle of the optical lens group, and the LED color temperature. The objective function of the DRL model is a multi-objective optimization function that comprehensively considers multiple performance indicators, including the uniformity of illumination in the target area (measured by calculating the standard deviation), the deviation between the average illumination and the target illumination, overall energy consumption, and the Unified Glare Rating (UGR), and optimizes them through a weighted summation method. Its core objective is to maximize energy efficiency and reduce glare while meeting mission requirements and safety constraints.For example, in a "water search and rescue" mission, the algorithm will prioritize a spotting mode with a lower beam angle (e.g., 25 degrees) and a higher color temperature (e.g., 6000K). Based on feedback from the UAV's attitude sensor, the algorithm will adjust the vertical illumination angle of the lighting module in real time according to the water surface reflectivity (by sensing the water surface roughness through a laser rangefinder) to minimize the impact of water surface reflection on the vision of search and rescue personnel, while ensuring the visibility of underwater targets.

[0036] The energy optimization management module works in conjunction with the adaptive lighting algorithm core to achieve a dynamic balance in power consumption. It receives real-time battery status information from the energy management module 7 and dynamically adjusts the optimization weights of the adaptive lighting algorithm core based on current task requirements and remaining battery power, giving energy efficiency a higher proportion in the overall objective function. When the drone's battery power falls below a preset threshold (e.g., 30% remaining power), the module will instruct the adaptive lighting algorithm core to prioritize energy efficiency, potentially by moderately reducing illuminance in non-critical areas, slightly relaxing illuminance uniformity requirements, or shortening the duration of high-brightness output modes, thereby extending the drone's loiter time.

[0037] The safety and anomaly handling module is crucial for the reliable operation of the system. It monitors the real-time operating status of each system component (e.g., LED temperature, driver current, motor position feedback), UAV flight parameters (e.g., attitude, altitude, speed), and battery health (SoH). When any anomaly is detected, such as battery over-discharge (voltage below 3.3V / cell), LED overheating (junction temperature exceeding 75 degrees Celsius), sensor malfunction (abnormal or interrupted data output), communication interruption, or abnormal UAV attitude (tilt angle exceeding 45 degrees, or uninstructed severe shaking), the module immediately triggers preset emergency response strategies. These strategies include: automatically switching to a low-power lighting mode (e.g., 50% brightness, fixed floodlight mode), issuing audible and visual alarms (via the communication and human-machine interface module 8), sending emergency warnings to the ground control station, and even, in extreme cases (e.g., extremely low battery or core component failure), guiding the UAV to execute an automatic return-to-home command to ensure the safety of the aircraft and equipment.

[0038] The lighting drive and control module 6, connected between the intelligent control and decision-making module 5 and the lighting module 2, serves as a bridge for converting intelligent control commands into physical light output. Module 6 receives precise lighting parameters output from the intelligent control and decision-making module 5 and converts them into specific control signals for the LED light source array, optical lens group, and heat dissipation structure. Module 6 includes: The LED driver employs an advanced multi-channel constant current source design, integrating a high-efficiency buck-boost DC-DC converter and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), enabling it to provide precise and stable drive current to each or every group of LEDs in the LED light source array. It supports high-frequency pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming technology with a PWM frequency up to 20kHz, ensuring no visible flicker at any brightness level. The dimming resolution reaches up to 12 bits (i.e., 4096 levels of brightness adjustment), achieving linear brightness adjustment from 0% to 100%. The LED driver supports I2C or SPI communication protocols, allowing the intelligent control and decision module to independently and precisely control the current output and color temperature of each LED (or the smallest controllable unit) in the LED light source array, thereby achieving local dimming, light spot shaping, and dynamic color temperature mixing.

[0039] The motor controller integrates a high-performance stepper motor driver chip (e.g., TMC2209) and employs microstepping technology, such as 1 / 256 microsteps, for precise control of the miniature stepper motors in the optical lens assembly. This enables extremely smooth and accurate dynamic adjustment of the focal length and beam angle. The motor controller receives commands via a CAN bus, achieving a control accuracy of 0.1 degrees, ensuring fine, stepless adjustment of the beam angle.

[0040] The fan speed controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the active cooling fan based on real-time temperature data fed back from a temperature sensor (NTC thermistor) within the heat dissipation structure, using a classic proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm. The PID parameters are precisely tuned to ensure that the cooling system can respond quickly and stably maintain the LED junction temperature within its optimal operating range (e.g., 65±5 degrees Celsius) under varying ambient temperatures and LED power outputs, while minimizing fan noise and energy consumption.

[0041] The energy management module 7, connected to the main power system of the drone platform 1, is the core system providing a stable and efficient power supply for the various modules involved in this invention and managing the battery lifecycle. Module 7 includes: The high-capacity lithium polymer (LiPo) battery pack consists of multiple high-energy-density lithium polymer cells connected in series and parallel. It has a rated voltage of 22.2 volts (6S configuration) and a total capacity of up to 20,000 mAh, with an energy density of 220 Wh / kg. This battery pack can support the lighting system to operate continuously for at least 3 hours at maximum power output (approximately 500 watts), which is crucial for extending the drone's loiter time. The battery pack features a fire-resistant and explosion-proof design and incorporates a built-in PTC (positive temperature coefficient) thermistor and fuse for multiple layers of protection.

[0042] The Battery Management System (BMS) is a highly intelligent electronic system responsible for comprehensive and precise management of the battery pack. Its functions include: real-time voltage monitoring (each cell voltage accuracy ±5mV), current monitoring (charge / discharge current accuracy ±0.1A), and temperature monitoring (multi-point NTC temperature sensors) to achieve precise charging management (trickle, constant current, and constant voltage three-stage charging), overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, high and low temperature protection, and charge balancing (active or passive balancing to ensure consistent cell voltage). The BMS also provides accurate estimations of the battery's remaining charge (State of Charge, SoC) and state of health (State of Health, SoH), transmitting these critical data to the intelligent control and decision-making module via the SMBus protocol. A high-efficiency DC-DC converter array, composed of multiple isolated and non-isolated DC-DC converters, achieves an average conversion efficiency exceeding 95% (e.g., based on high-performance chips such as the TITPS54308 or ADILTC3890). These converters are used to convert the 22.2-volt voltage of the battery pack to the stable voltage levels required by each module, such as 5V (for microcontrollers and sensors), 12V (for communication units and some motors), and 24V (for LED drivers and active cooling fans). The DC-DC converter powering the LED driver features high current output capability (e.g., peak 30A) and employs synchronous rectification technology to maximize efficiency, while also exhibiting excellent load regulation and ripple suppression to ensure stable LED light output.

[0043] The external power interface and AC-DC converter utilize an industrial-grade waterproof aviation plug (e.g., GX16-4 type), supporting 100–240V AC input or 24V–48V DC input. When an external power source is connected, the AC-DC converter (e.g., rated power 600W, efficiency >90%) or DC input interface will intelligently identify and prioritize powering the entire system, while simultaneously providing rapid charging to the battery pack (e.g., using a 2C charging rate), thereby enabling continuous 24-hour uninterrupted lighting operation and greatly expanding the system's operating range and duration.

[0044] The communication and human-computer interaction module 8 is the core interface for information exchange and control between the user and the system of this invention. Module 8 aims to provide diverse control methods and rich information feedback. Module 8 includes: The wireless communication unit employs advanced Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology, supporting dual-band communication at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz. It possesses strong anti-interference capabilities and penetration, with a theoretical communication range of up to 5 kilometers in open environments. This unit also supports 4G / 5G cellular network communication as a backup channel, ensuring remote control, real-time data transmission (e.g., ambient light data, battery status, GPS positioning information), and high-definition video streaming (e.g., 720p@30fps) are still possible even when the main communication link is blocked or during ultra-long-distance operations, providing users with comprehensive situational awareness.

[0045] Wired remote controllers, as a highly reliable and low-latency short-range control method, use a USB Type-C interface or a dedicated aviation plug to connect to the drone platform via a wired connection, providing millisecond-level ultra-low latency control response. The remote controller features an ergonomic one-handed operation design, with its shell injection molded from high-strength ABS engineering plastic. It integrates a high-precision three-axis joystick, multiple customizable multi-function buttons, and a small high-contrast OLED display (e.g., 1.3 inches, 128x64 pixels). The display shows key system parameters in real time, such as current target illuminance, actual output illuminance, remaining battery percentage, current operating mode (automatic / manual), drone altitude, and brief fault prompts. The remote controller is designed with a quick mode switch button, allowing users to quickly switch between "automatic mode" (system autonomous decision-making), "manual brightness adjustment" (linear brightness adjustment via joystick or knob), "manual color temperature adjustment" (color temperature adjustment via joystick or knob), and "emergency lighting mode" (fixed maximum brightness floodlight mode) to cope with emergencies or special operational needs.

[0046] The Ground Control Station (GCS) software is an application developed for Windows / Linux / Android platforms. It establishes a connection with the UAV platform via a wireless communication unit. GCS software provides an intuitive, graphical user interface (GUI) for: mission planning (drawing lighting areas on a map, setting flight paths and altitudes, and preset multi-point lighting parameters), fine-tuning of lighting parameters (customizing brightness curves, color temperature gradients, light spot shapes, etc.), real-time data monitoring (displaying ambient light data, battery voltage, LED temperature, UAV attitude, etc. in graphical form), historical data analysis (reviewing and optimizing operational plans), and advanced functions such as firmware updates. GCS software supports simultaneous control and collaborative lighting management of multiple UAVs, further improving the overall operational efficiency of the system.

[0047] The working principle is as follows: After the UAV platform 1 starts up and successfully completes its self-test, it enters the work area, and the entire intelligent lighting system immediately enters working mode. The environmental perception module 3 begins to collect multi-dimensional parameters such as ambient light intensity, color temperature, rainfall, fog visibility, and temperature and humidity in the work area in real time at a frequency of 10Hz, and transmits this raw data to the intelligent control and decision module 5 via SPI or I2C bus. At the same time, the UAV flight status and position perception module 4 continuously acquires the UAV's precise three-dimensional position (latitude and longitude, altitude), attitude (roll, pitch, yaw angle), and speed information at a high frequency of 100Hz, and transmits this data to the intelligent control and decision module 5 via CAN bus.

[0048] After receiving massive amounts of data from different sensor modules, the intelligent control and decision-making module 5 immediately performs rigorous time synchronization, outlier filtering, and calibration correction on this multi-source heterogeneous data to ensure data consistency and accuracy. Subsequently, this unit uses the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm to deeply fuse data from GNSS, IMU, barometer, and laser rangefinder, generating highly accurate and robust real-time UAV position, velocity, and attitude estimates, and continuously updating the environmental model. Based on the fused environmental data, the environmental context analysis module dynamically constructs and updates a real-time, refined environmental model using preset fuzzy logic inference rules, such as identifying whether the current environmental context is "light rain at night with low visibility" or "dense fog before dawn with insufficient light in the target area." During this period, the task requirement analysis module parses and extracts the precise lighting target parameters required for the current operation based on the specific operation instructions input by the user through the communication and human-machine interaction module 8 (e.g., through the ground control station GCS software) (such as selecting "night search and rescue mode" and specifying the search area) or loading the preset task configuration file. These parameters include target illuminance, target color temperature, geometry and range of the lighting area, and specific tolerance to glare.

[0049] Next, the core of the adaptive lighting algorithm, namely the core algorithm based on the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) model, takes the generated environmental model, the parsed task target parameters, the current real-time flight status of the UAV (e.g., altitude, tilt angle, horizontal speed), and the real-time battery power information (SoC) provided by the energy management module 7 as input. The DRL model, through the optimization strategies learned during the training phase, comprehensively balances multiple complex optimization objectives in a high-dimensional decision space, such as energy efficiency, average illuminance of the target area, illuminance uniformity, precise matching of target color temperature, and glare suppression, and outputs a set of optimal, real-time lighting control parameters. These parameters include, but are not limited to: the total luminous flux of the LED light source array (i.e., the overall brightness output percentage), the refined power allocation of different LED areas (to achieve spot shaping or localized supplemental lighting), the precise focal length and beam angle adjustment of the optical lens group (to achieve stepless switching between focused and floodlighting), and the precise color temperature setting of the LED light source array. For example, in the scenario of "nighttime water search and rescue", if the ambient light is extremely low and there is light fog, the DRL model will tend to select a medium to high brightness spotlight mode and adjust the color temperature to 6000K to enhance the target contrast. At the same time, it will fine-tune the beam angle according to the drone's altitude and the water surface conditions to minimize water surface reflection.

[0050] After receiving the precise lighting control parameters output by the intelligent control and decision-making module 5, the lighting drive and control module 6 immediately converts these abstract instructions into executable physical control signals. Its internal LED driver, based on the instructions, precisely controls the brightness and color temperature of the LED light source array in the lighting module 2 through multi-channel PWM dimming, achieving millisecond-level response speed and stepless adjustment. Simultaneously, the motor controller receives instructions via the CAN bus and precisely drives the micro-stepping motors in the optical lens group, achieving dynamic adjustment of the focal length and beam angle, thereby realizing real-time changes in the shape, size, and convergence of the lighting spot. Furthermore, the fan speed controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the active cooling fan using a PID control algorithm based on real-time temperature data fed back from the temperature sensor inside the heat dissipation structure 2, ensuring that the junction temperature of the LED light source array is stably maintained within the optimal operating range under any operating intensity, preventing light decay and lifespan reduction due to overheating.

[0051] Throughout system operation, the energy management module 7 continuously monitors the battery pack's charging and discharging status, voltage, current, and temperature at high frequency, and accurately estimates the remaining charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH). When the battery charge is detected to be below a preset safety threshold (e.g., 20%), the energy management module 7 will issue a low-battery alarm to the intelligent control and decision-making module 5 through its internal energy optimization management module, and suggest adjusting the lighting power. The adaptive lighting algorithm core of the intelligent control and decision-making module 5 will adjust its optimization strategy accordingly, such as appropriately reducing the lighting brightness in non-critical areas or extending the duration of low-power mode to extend the drone's loiter time and ensure the system can return safely. If an external power interface is connected, the energy management module 7 will intelligently switch power supply priorities, prioritizing the use of external power to power the entire system while simultaneously fast-charging the onboard battery pack, thereby achieving uninterrupted operation of the system in long-term operation scenarios. At the same time, the safety and anomaly handling module 5 monitors all key system parameters in real time, including battery status, LED temperature, sensor health status, communication links, and drone flight attitude. Once any pre-set abnormal situation is detected (e.g., battery over-discharge, LED overheating, abnormal data from critical sensors, or communication interruption), the module will immediately trigger the corresponding emergency response strategy, such as issuing an audible and visual alarm, switching to a low-power safety lighting mode, or sending an automatic return-to-home command to the UAV flight control system when necessary, in order to maximize the stability and safety of the system operation.

[0052] Example This embodiment describes the specific application of the present invention in a "nighttime water search and rescue" mission.

[0053] Mission Background: A boat capsized unexpectedly at night in a certain location, requiring immediate deployment of drones for water search and rescue. Environmental Conditions: Nighttime, no moonlight, ambient illuminance below 5 lux; light fog, visibility approximately 400 meters; air temperature 10°C, humidity 95%RH; calm water surface with slight ripples. The drone's flight altitude is set at 30 meters, requiring high-intensity, high-contrast illumination of a 25-meter radius area to assist search and rescue personnel in identifying targets. High glare control is required, minimizing water surface reflection. System Configuration and Operating Parameters: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform 1: Equipped with this system, it maintains a flight altitude of 30 meters, hovers horizontally, and has a stable attitude.

[0054] Environmental Perception Module 3: Visible Light Sensor: Measured ambient illuminance of 2.8 lux. Haze and Visibility Sensor: Measured visibility of 385 meters. Temperature and Humidity Sensor: Measured temperature of 9.8°C and humidity of 94%RH. UAV Flight Status and Position Perception Module 4: GNSS / IMU fusion: Provides accurate altitude of 30.0±0.1 meters and stable flight attitude.

[0055] Laser rangefinder sensor: Confirmed height of 30.0 meters above the water surface. Ripples on the water surface caused slight disturbances. No obvious obstacles were detected.

[0056] Intelligent Control and Decision Module 5: Data Fusion and Preprocessing Unit: Processes and fuses the aforementioned sensor data to generate a high-precision environmental and flight status dataset. Environmental Context Analysis Module: Identifies the current environment as "extremely dark nighttime, light fog, low visibility, water search and rescue." Mission Requirement Analysis Module: Parses the "nighttime water search and rescue" mission configuration file. Target illuminance is set to a minimum of 300 lux, color temperature requirement is 6000K±200K, the illumination area is circular with a radius of 25 meters, and the glare index (UGR) must be below 22.

[0057] Adaptive Lighting Algorithm Core (DRL): Input: Ambient illuminance 2.8lx, visibility 385m, humidity 94%RH, target illuminance 300lx, target color temperature 6000K, area radius 25m, UGR<22, drone altitude 30m, battery remaining power 85%.

[0058] Decision Output: Total luminous flux of LED light source array: Set to 92% of rated maximum output. LED color temperature: Precisely adjusted to 6150K. Optical lens group beam angle: Adjusted to 28 degrees for effective light focusing and coverage.

[0059] LED power distribution: 80% power in the central area (approximately 15 meters in diameter) and 20% power in the outer area, forming a light spot with high brightness in the center and gradually decreasing brightness at the edges.

[0060] Lighting module pitch angle: Based on the UAV attitude and water surface reflectivity model, the pitch angle is finely adjusted to 88 degrees downward (relative to 90 degrees vertically downward) to slightly tilt the beam and reduce reflected glare caused by direct illumination of the water surface.

[0061] Energy optimization management module: Maintains high brightness output based on remaining battery power, without triggering energy-saving mode.

[0062] Safety and anomaly handling module: The system is operating normally with no alarms.

[0063] Lighting Driver and Control Module 6: LED Driver: Drives the LED array with high-frequency PWM, outputting precise brightness (92% of total power) and color temperature (6150K). Motor Controller: Precisely adjusts the optical lens assembly to achieve a 28-degree beam angle. Fan Speed ​​Controller: Dynamically adjusts the fan speed based on the LED array temperature (maintained at 68°C).

[0064] Energy Management Module 7: The battery pack provides stable power, and the BMS monitors the battery level and health status in real time. Results Analysis: At a depth of 30 meters below the drone platform, the average illuminance measured by a professional lux meter was 295 lux, with a deviation of only 1.67% from the target illuminance of 300 lux, meeting the search and rescue requirements.

[0065] Illumination uniformity: Within a 25-meter radius, the minimum illuminance is 220 lux, the maximum illuminance is 330 lux, and the uniformity reaches 0.74, ensuring good visibility in the search and rescue area.

[0066] Color temperature: 6120K, which is very close to the target color temperature of 6150K, ensuring high contrast and clarity of the target.

[0067] Glare Index (UGR): Measured by a special sensor, the UGR value is approximately 20.5, which is far below the human visual discomfort threshold, effectively suppressing the impact of water surface reflection on search and rescue personnel.

[0068] Energy consumption: The total system power consumption remains stable at approximately 480 watts. At this power consumption, the battery life can reach 2.5 hours, which is sufficient to support a standard search and rescue mission.

[0069] Comparative Example This comparative example describes the performance of a commonly used UAV-borne fixed lighting system without adaptive dimming capability in the same "nighttime water search and rescue" mission. System configuration and operating parameters: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform: Same as the previous embodiment, maintaining a flight altitude of 30 meters and hovering horizontally.

[0070] Lighting module: It uses fixed LED floodlights with a total luminous flux of 100,000 lumens (approximately 500 watts) and a color temperature of 5000K.

[0071] It lacks optical lens adjustment function, and the beam angle is fixed at 90 degrees for floodlight.

[0072] It lacks intelligent heat dissipation structure and relies solely on passive cooling and a fixed-speed fan.

[0073] It lacks an environmental perception module, a drone flight status and position perception module, and an intelligent control and decision-making module.

[0074] Intelligent dimming capability without lighting drive and control modules.

[0075] Intelligent optimization without an energy management module.

[0076] Communication and Human-Machine Interaction Module: Only provides simple on / off switching and fixed percentage brightness adjustment (e.g., 50% or 100%). Task Operation: The operator manually turns the lighting system to maximum brightness; color temperature cannot be adjusted.

[0077] Results Analysis: Measurements taken at the water surface 30 meters below the drone platform using a professional lux meter showed the following: Average illuminance: Due to the fixed beam angle, which cannot be adjusted according to distance and area, and the suboptimal color temperature, the average illuminance in the target area is approximately 200 lux, lower than the 300 lux required for search and rescue. In the edge areas, the illuminance is only about 80 lux, insufficient to support effective search and rescue.

[0078] Illumination uniformity: Within a 25-meter radius, the minimum illuminance is 50 lux and the maximum illuminance is 250 lux, with a uniformity of only 0.25. The center of the light spot is too bright, the edges are severely attenuated, and there are a large number of dark areas, which seriously affects the search and rescue efficiency.

[0079] Color temperature: fixed at 5000K. In light fog conditions, it has insufficient penetration and low contrast with water surface targets, which increases the difficulty of recognition.

[0080] Glare Index (UGR): Because the beam cannot be adjusted, a large amount of light shines directly and perpendicularly onto the water surface, producing strong specular reflection. The UGR value is as high as 30 or more, which seriously causes visual discomfort to search and rescue personnel and may even lead to temporary blindness, greatly increasing the risk of operation.

[0081] Energy consumption: Fixed at approximately 500 watts, energy consumption remains high despite some light not being effectively utilized. At this power consumption, battery life is approximately 2 hours, 0.5 hours shorter than that of this invention, thus limiting operating time.

[0082] Performance comparison between the examples and the comparative examples The table below provides a detailed comparison of the key performance indicators of the embodiments of the present invention and the comparative examples in the "nighttime water search and rescue" mission: Performance indicators Embodiment of the present invention (adaptive intelligent dimming system) Comparative example (fixed lighting system) Performance improvement (compared to the comparative example) average illuminance of target area 295 lux 200 lux 47.5% Illuminance uniformity (Min / Max) 0.74 0.25 196% Color temperature matching accuracy (deviation from target 6000K) 1.67% (actual 6120K) 16.67% (actual 5000K) Significant optimization Glare Index (UGR) 20.5 >30 At least 30% reduction Effective lighting coverage area 2000 square meters (radius 25 meters) Approximately 1000 square meters (effective illuminance area) 100% Total system power consumption 480 watts 500 watts 4% Battery life 2.5 hours 2.0 hours 25% Adaptability Extremely powerful (real-time adaptive) none Unquantifiable, a qualitative leap Ease of use High (automated decision-making) Low (judged manually based on experience) Significant improvement The comparative data from the above embodiments and comparative examples demonstrate that the adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for UAVs provided by this invention exhibits significant advantages in practical applications. It can intelligently and precisely adjust lighting parameters according to complex environmental conditions and specific mission requirements, not only significantly improving the average illuminance and illuminance uniformity of the target area, making search and rescue targets easier to spot, but also effectively reducing water glare by optimizing color temperature and beam angle, greatly improving the visual experience and operational safety of search and rescue personnel. Simultaneously, while achieving superior lighting effects, this invention effectively extends battery life and improves energy efficiency through intelligent energy management strategies. These data fully demonstrate the non-obviousness and innovativeness of the technical effects of this invention. This invention overcomes the inherent defects of existing fixed lighting systems in terms of adaptability, energy efficiency, lighting effects, and operational safety, bringing revolutionary progress to UAV-borne lighting technology.

[0083] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that adapts to ambient light, characterized in that: include: The unmanned aerial vehicle platform (1) is used to carry various modules and provides flight payload capacity, power supply interface and data transmission channel; The lighting module (2) is located below the UAV platform (1) or connected to the UAV platform (1) through a controllable gimbal mechanism, and emits light according to the instructions of the intelligent control and decision module (5); An environmental perception module (3) is located on the top of the UAV platform (1) or the lighting module (2) to collect ambient light and weather parameters; The UAV flight status and position perception module (4) is integrated into the UAV platform (1) to acquire real-time flight data of the UAV; The intelligent control and decision-making module (5) is integrated into the UAV platform (1), receives and integrates the data from the environmental perception module (3) and the UAV flight status and position perception module (4), and adaptively generates lighting control parameters according to the preset task requirements; The lighting drive and control module (6) connects the intelligent control and decision module (5) and the lighting module (2) to convert the lighting control parameters into specific control signals for the lighting module (2); The energy management module (7) is connected to the main power system of the UAV platform (1) to provide a stable and efficient power supply for each module; The communication and human-computer interaction module (8) enables information exchange and control between the user and the system.

2. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lighting module (2) includes: The LED light source array consists of at least 200 high-brightness light-emitting diodes; The optical lens group, including a condensing lens and a scattering lens, achieves dynamic adjustment of focal length and light output angle through a mechanical transmission mechanism driven by a micro stepper motor. The beam angle can be continuously adjusted between 15 degrees and 120 degrees to achieve switching between condensing and floodlight modes. The heat dissipation structure includes a heat sink array, heat pipes, and an active cooling fan. The heat sink array is made of high thermal conductivity aluminum alloy. The weight reduction and safety protection structure adopts an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy frame and a high-strength polymer shell, and includes a built-in emergency buffer airbag system. When the lighting module is detected to be separated from the drone platform or when the fall acceleration is abnormal, it will automatically inflate and deploy to buffer the impact.

3. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The unmanned aerial vehicle platform (1) has at least four rotor structures.

4. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The environment sensing module (3) includes: A multispectral ambient light sensor array, consisting of at least three photodiodes arranged in a ring; Rain gauges are used to detect rainfall intensity; Haze and visibility sensors are used to measure the concentration of particulate matter and visibility in the air; Temperature and humidity sensor, using integrated MEMS technology; The data collected by the environmental perception module (3) is transmitted to the intelligent control and decision-making module (5) through the serial peripheral interface or I2C bus.

5. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The UAV flight status and position awareness module (4) includes: Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver; The inertial measurement unit, which includes a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope, measures the attitude, angular velocity and linear acceleration of the UAV. The measurement accuracy is improved by fusing the data through a Kalman filter algorithm. A barometric altimeter provides relative altitude information; A laser rangefinder sensor, mounted on the bottom of the drone, provides the drone's precise altitude above the ground; The data collected by the UAV flight status and position perception module (4) is transmitted to the intelligent control and decision-making module (5) via the CAN bus.

6. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intelligent control and decision-making module (5) includes: Main processor; The data fusion and preprocessing unit receives raw data from the environmental perception module (3) and the UAV flight status and position perception module (4), performs time synchronization, outlier filtering, calibration correction and unit conversion, etc., to form a unified format dataset, and uses the extended Kalman filter algorithm to fuse multi-source heterogeneous sensor data. The environmental context analysis module, based on the fused data, uses a fuzzy logic reasoning engine to build a real-time environmental model to assess the current light intensity level, light uniformity, color temperature, and weather conditions. The task requirement parsing module parses the current lighting task type and corresponding core lighting requirements based on the operation instructions or preset task configuration files input by the user through the communication and human-computer interaction module (8). The core of the adaptive lighting algorithm is based on a deep reinforcement learning model and trained using a policy gradient algorithm. It takes environmental context, task requirements, UAV flight status and current energy reserves as inputs and outputs the optimal set of lighting parameters. The objective function comprehensively considers the illuminance uniformity, average illuminance deviation, energy consumption and glare index of the target area. The energy optimization management module works in conjunction with the core of the adaptive lighting algorithm to dynamically adjust the driving current of the LED light source array, minimize the overall power consumption, and notify the core of the adaptive lighting algorithm to prioritize energy efficiency when the power is below a preset threshold. The safety and anomaly handling module monitors the working status of each system component, drone flight parameters, and battery health status in real time, and triggers preset emergency response strategies when anomalies are detected.

7. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the visible light intensity is below 10 lux and the visibility is below 500 meters, the environmental context analysis module will identify the system as a foggy and dimly lit environment context.

8. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 6, characterized in that: The core of the adaptive lighting algorithm in water search and rescue missions is to prioritize a focusing mode with a lower beam angle and higher color temperature, and adjust the vertical illumination angle according to the water surface reflectivity to reduce water surface reflection.

9. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lighting driving and control module (6) includes: The LED driver adopts a multi-channel constant current source design and supports pulse width modulation dimming; The motor controller integrates a stepper motor driver chip to precisely control the miniature stepper motors in the optical lens group, enabling dynamic adjustment of focal length and beam angle, and receiving commands via CAN bus. The fan speed controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the active cooling fan based on feedback from the temperature sensor inside the heat dissipation structure, using a PID control algorithm to maintain the heat dissipation effect.

10. The adaptive ambient light intelligent dimming lighting system for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The communication and human-computer interaction module (8) includes: The wireless communication unit is used for remote control, real-time data transmission, and high-definition video streaming. The wired remote controller uses a USB Type-C interface or a dedicated aviation plug to connect to the drone platform via wired connection, providing ultra-low latency control. It integrates a joystick, multi-function buttons and a small OLED display screen, which displays key system parameters in real time. The ground control station software runs on a standard computing device and connects to the UAV platform via a wireless communication unit. It provides a graphical user interface for mission planning, fine-tuning of lighting parameters, real-time data monitoring, historical data analysis, and firmware upgrades.

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