Method and system for dynamically adjusting communication resources of unmanned aerial vehicle group

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of communication, and discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle group communication resource dynamic adjustment method and system, so as to improve the convenience and reliability of resource dynamic configuration. The method comprises the following steps that: a central node calculates idle resources and combines task node states in a task node member list, so that a communication system can release occupied invalid resources in time, adjust the number of nodes for receiving image data and dynamically adjust resource allocation of an unmanned aerial vehicle group communication system; therefore, the combination of multiple communication resource allocation modes of a single communication system is realized; wherein the types of the task nodes comprise unmanned aerial vehicle task nodes and launching device task nodes; the unmanned aerial vehicle task node is a class-A data chain terminal deployed on an unmanned aerial vehicle, the transmitting device task node is a class-B data chain terminal deployed on a transmitting device, and the center node is a command end deployed on a ground station.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a method and system for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a drone group. Background Art

[0002] With the development of drone technology, the increasing maturity of communication technology and target recognition technology, the application scenarios of drone swarms are becoming more and more extensive. Among them, the take-off and release of drone swarms is a necessary pre-stage in its use process, and the launch device used to launch drones can be controlled by wire or wirelessly. The method of launching drones with a wired control launch device requires the operator to carry control cables, switches and other equipment, which is not suitable for launching scenarios with a large number of drone swarms. Therefore, in the current control method of drone swarm launch devices, most of them use launch devices based on wireless communication to launch drones.

[0003] Common wireless communication systems are based on distributed TDMA and use a fixed time slot allocation method of time division multiplexing. This allocation method requires the estimation of the total amount of communication resources required by the ground station, drones, and launchers in advance, and the design of the total bandwidth of the communication system. However, when the drone swarm system is actually working, it is mostly in a working state that requires flexible allocation of communication resources. In some special scenarios (for example: drone swarm special effects performances, etc.), the launcher only needs to occupy communication resources during the take-off and release stage of the drone (the drone can land by itself according to the command and control instructions, and there is no need to use the launcher during the landing process, but the launcher can be used again to launch other drones. The drone is usually in a retracted state before being launched, and can be unlocked according to the coordinate information after launch and enter a normal working state); and for a large number of drone swarm systems, not every mission is performed with the maximum number of drones, but all the required bandwidth needs to be reserved in advance; the drone exits the communication system after performing the mission, but the communication resources it occupies are not released. At the same time, in the current drone swarm usage scenarios that require video image transmission, the ground station sets up several drones in sequence according to the order of network access for image transmission. When the total bandwidth of the communication system is limited, drones that have been set to image transmission mode will occupy a large amount of communication resources. When the mission is temporarily changed, more drones cannot be accommodated into the network due to redundant image transmission channels.

[0004] The current drone swarm system cannot realize the dynamic allocation of communication system resources. The operator needs to recover the drone and reconfigure the communication system after powering off the drone. This adjustment method of reconfiguring communication system resources by powering off is complicated and inconvenient to operate. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to disclose a method and system for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles, so as to improve the convenience and reliability of dynamic resource configuration.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the method for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a drone group disclosed in the present invention includes: Step S1, after the central node is powered on, the task node member list is updated according to the interaction with the task node; the types of the task nodes include UAV task nodes and launcher task nodes; the UAV task node is a Class A data link terminal deployed on the UAV, the launcher task node is a Class B data link terminal deployed on the launcher, and the central node is a command terminal deployed on the ground station; Step S2: When the network access requirements of the new task node are obtained, the central node calculates the remaining resources according to the task node member list and the preset resource configuration rules; the resource configuration rules use time slots as allocation units, including the number of time slots respectively configured by the central node and the corresponding task node when exchanging different types of data; Step S3, judging whether the current remaining resources meet the network access requirements of the new task node, if not, proceeding to step S4; if satisfied, allocating the communication resources required for the new task node to access the network from the current remaining resources; Step S4, check whether there is a drone task node that has been offline. If so, release the resources of the drone task node that has been offline, and then go to step S3; if not, go to step S5; Step S5, check whether there is a transmitter task node in the launched state, if so, release the resources of the transmitter task node in the launched state, and go to step S3; if not, go to step S6; Step S6, judging whether the remaining resources updated after releasing all current image transmission resources meet the network access requirements of the new task node, if not, going to step S7, if satisfied, prompting the operator to close and release the image transmission resources of at least one UAV task node according to the resource difference; Step S7: Output a notification indicating that current communication resources are insufficient.

[0007] Preferably, the task node member list includes: node type, node product number and node status information; the node type includes two types: drone and launch device.

[0008] Preferably, in the resource configuration rules, the data types interacting between the central node and the drone mission node include telemetry data, command and control data, and image transmission data; the data types interacting between the central node and the launch device mission node include control data sent by the central node to the launch device mission node, and feedback data sent by the launch device mission node to the central node.

[0009] Preferably, the method of the present invention further comprises: Step S11: A Class A data link terminal that has been connected to the network applies to enable the image transmission function; Step S12, determining whether the current remaining resources meet the requirements of the Class A data link terminal for enabling the image transmission function, if not, proceeding to step S13; if satisfied, allocating the communication resources required for the Class A data link terminal to enable the image transmission function from the current remaining resources; Step S13, check whether there is a drone task node that has been offline. If so, release the resources of the drone task node that has been offline, and then go to step S12; if not, go to step S14; Step S14, check whether there is a transmitter task node in the launched state. If so, release the resources of the transmitter task node in the launched state and go to step S12; if not, go to step S7.

[0010] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention also discloses a dynamic adjustment system for communication resources of a drone swarm, including a central node and a task node, the types of the task nodes include drone task nodes and launch device task nodes; the drone task node is a Class A data link terminal deployed on the drone, the launch device task node is a Class B data link terminal deployed on the launch device, and the central node is a command and control terminal deployed on a ground station; each node is respectively deployed with a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and the processors of each node interact to execute the corresponding computer program to collaboratively implement the above-mentioned method.

[0011] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: the central node calculates idle resources and combines the task node status in the task node member list to enable the communication system to release occupied invalid resources in a timely manner, adjust the number of nodes receiving image data, and dynamically adjust the resource allocation of the drone swarm communication system, thereby realizing a combination of multiple communication resource allocation methods for a single communication system, improving the communication resource utilization rate of the communication system, and also improving the convenience and reliability of dynamic resource configuration.

[0012] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawings constituting a part of this application are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 It is a flow chart of a method for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a drone group disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention can be implemented in many different ways as defined and covered by the claims.

[0015] Example 1 like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment discloses a method for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a drone group, including: Step S1, after the central node is powered on, the task node member list is updated according to the interaction with the task node; the types of task nodes include UAV task nodes and launcher task nodes; the UAV task node is a Class A data link terminal deployed on the UAV, the launcher task node is a Class B data link terminal deployed on the launcher, and the central node is a command and control terminal deployed on the ground station.

[0016] In this step, the so-called "data link terminal" is an unlimited communication module used to realize data transmission. Optionally, the task node member list may include: node type, node product number and node status information; the node type includes two types: drone and launch device.

[0017] Step S2: When the network access requirements of the new task node are obtained, the central node calculates the remaining resources based on the task node member list and the preset resource configuration rules; the resource configuration rules use time slots as allocation units, including the number of time slots respectively configured by the central node and the corresponding task node when interacting with different types of data.

[0018] In this step, when designing resource configuration rules, communication resources must be estimated according to different application scenarios. The specific implementation process can be: According to the total bandwidth of the communication system, the time frame length, and the data volume of the command and control communication protocol data packet in various known application scenarios, a frame is evenly distributed into M time slots. The transmission of the transmitter control data (i.e., the control data sent by the central node to the transmitter task node) and the transmitter feedback data (i.e., the feedback data sent by the transmitter task node to the central node) occupies the communication resource a, and N1 time slots are configured to complete the data transmission; the transmission of the UAV command and control data (i.e., the command and control data sent by the central node to the UAV task node) and the UAV telemetry data (i.e., the telemetry data sent by the UAV task node to the central node) occupies the communication resource b, and N2 time slots are configured to complete the data transmission; the video image data (i.e., the image transmission data sent by the UAV task node to the central node) occupies the communication resource c, and N3 time slots are configured to complete the data transmission. The central node is powered on before the task node. After powering on, the data link hardware of the UAV swarm system communication system is configured with parameters according to the above communication resource estimation results.

[0019] In this embodiment, the frame format of the data packet may be as shown in Table 1: Table 1: Frame format of data packet

[0020] Generally, the launch control data content of the launch device should at least include the launch device control instructions, which can be used to control the launch device to launch the UAV and control the launch device to power off; the launch device feedback data content should at least include the launch device status information, the status information includes standby status, ready to launch status and launched status; the UAV command and control data content should at least include the UAV image transmission control instructions, UAV mission instructions and UAV remote control instructions, among which the UAV image transmission control instructions can turn on or off the video image transmission function of the mission node; the UAV telemetry data content contains information related to the UAV and the mission payload.

[0021] Among them, the node product number is unique and can identify any product in the drone swarm system. In the task node member list, as shown in Table 2, for drone task nodes, the node status may include "image transmission turned on", "image transmission turned off", "offline", etc.; for drone launch device task nodes, the node status may include "waiting to launch", "launched", "offline", etc. Once the task node in the task node member list is written, it will continue to exist during this power-on process. When no drone telemetry data packet or launch device feedback data packet is received after T1 seconds, the node status is set to "offline".

[0022] Table 2: Task node member list

[0023] Usually, T2 seconds after the central node is powered on, communication resources are allocated to the task nodes to be connected to the network according to the number of UAV task nodes and UAV launch device task nodes in the task node member list to complete the system communication resource initialization.

[0024] Step S3, determine whether the current remaining resources meet the network access requirements of the new task node. If not, go to step S4; if yes, allocate the communication resources required for the new task node to access the network from the current remaining resources.

[0025] In this step, the central node traverses the task node member list, calculates in real time the task node types that are currently connected to the network and whose node status is not "offline", counts the total amount of communication resources occupied by the nodes on the network, and calculates the idle resources in real time to prompt the number of drone task nodes that can be connected to the network and the number of nodes that can receive image data.

[0026] Step S4, check whether there is a drone mission node that has been offline. If so, release the resources of the drone mission node that has been offline, and then go to step S3; if not, go to step S5.

[0027] Similarly, the central node can also traverse the task node member list to check whether there is a drone task node with a node status of "offline". If so, the central node will exit the drone task node in the "offline" state from the communication system to release the communication resources it occupies.

[0028] Step S5, check whether there is a transmitter task node in the launched state. If so, release the resources of the transmitter task node in the launched state and go to step S3; if not, go to step S6.

[0029] In the specific execution process of this step, the central node traverses the task node member list to check whether there is a transmitter task node with a node status of "launched". If so, the central node will withdraw the transmitter task node with the "launched status" from the communication system and release the communication resources occupied by it.

[0030] Step S6: Determine whether the remaining resources updated after releasing all current image transmission resources meet the network access requirements of the new task node. If not, go to step S7. If yes, prompt the operator to close and release the image transmission resources of at least one drone task node according to the resource difference.

[0031] During the specific execution of this step, the central node can traverse the task node member list to check whether there is a drone task node with a node status of "image transmission turned on". Correspondingly, after the operator turns off some image transmission resources, when the drone task node status changes from "image transmission turned on" to "image transmission turned off", the communication resources occupied by it are released.

[0032] Step S7: Output a notification indicating that current communication resources are insufficient.

[0033] Example 2 Based on the above-mentioned embodiment 1, this embodiment further includes the following steps: Step S11: A Class A data link terminal that has been connected to the network applies to enable the image transmission function.

[0034] Step S12, determine whether the current remaining resources meet the requirements of the Class A data link terminal to enable the image transmission function. If not, go to step S13; if yes, allocate the communication resources required for the Class A data link terminal to enable the image transmission function from the current remaining resources.

[0035] Step S13, check whether there is a drone mission node that has been offline. If so, release the resources of the drone mission node that has been offline, and then go to step S12; if not, go to step S14.

[0036] Step S14, check whether there is a transmitter task node in the launched state. If so, release the resources of the transmitter task node in the launched state and go to step S12; if not, go to step S7.

[0037] Example 3 To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present embodiment discloses a system for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a drone swarm, including a central node and a task node, the types of the task nodes including drone task nodes and launch device task nodes; the drone task node is a Class A data link terminal deployed on the drone, the launch device task node is a Class B data link terminal deployed on the launch device, and the central node is a command and control terminal deployed on a ground station; each node is respectively deployed with a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and the processors of each node interact to execute the corresponding computer program to collaboratively implement the methods corresponding to the above two embodiments.

[0038] In summary, the methods and systems disclosed in the above embodiments of the present invention respectively have at least the following beneficial effects: The central node calculates the idle resources and combines them with the task node status in the task node member list, so that the communication system can release the occupied invalid resources in time, adjust the number of nodes receiving image data, and dynamically adjust the resource allocation of the drone swarm communication system, thereby realizing a combination of multiple communication resource allocation methods for a single communication system, improving the communication resource utilization rate of the communication system, and also improving the convenience and reliability of dynamic resource configuration.

[0039] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a drone group, characterized in that: include: Step S1: After the central node is powered on, the task node member list is updated according to the interaction with the task node; The types of the mission nodes include UAV mission nodes and launcher mission nodes; the UAV mission node is a Class A data link terminal deployed on the UAV, the launcher mission node is a Class B data link terminal deployed on the launcher, and the central node is a command and control terminal deployed on the ground station; Step S2: When the network access requirements of the new task node are obtained, the central node calculates the remaining resources according to the task node member list and the preset resource configuration rules; the resource configuration rules use time slots as allocation units, including the number of time slots respectively configured by the central node and the corresponding task node when exchanging different types of data; Step S3, judging whether the current remaining resources meet the network access requirements of the new task node, if not, proceeding to step S4; if satisfied, allocating the communication resources required for the new task node to access the network from the current remaining resources; Step S4, check whether there is a drone task node that has been offline. If so, release the resources of the drone task node that has been offline, and then go to step S3; If not present, go to step S5; Step S5, check whether there is a transmitter task node in the launched state, if so, release the resources of the transmitter task node in the launched state, and go to step S3; If not present, go to step S6; Step S6, judging whether the remaining resources updated after releasing all current image transmission resources meet the network access requirements of the new task node, if not, going to step S7, if satisfied, prompting the operator to close and release the image transmission resources of at least one UAV task node according to the resource difference; Step S7: Output a notification indicating that current communication resources are insufficient.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The task node member list includes: node type, node product number and node status information; the node type includes two types: drone and launch device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the resource configuration rules, the data types interacting between the central node and the drone mission node include telemetry data, command and control data, and image transmission data; the data types interacting between the central node and the launch device mission node include control data sent by the central node to the launch device mission node, and feedback data sent by the launch device mission node to the central node.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that Also includes: Step S11: A Class A data link terminal that has been connected to the network applies to enable the image transmission function; Step S12, determining whether the current remaining resources meet the requirements of the Class A data link terminal for enabling the image transmission function, if not, proceeding to step S13; if satisfied, allocating the communication resources required for the Class A data link terminal to enable the image transmission function from the current remaining resources; Step S13, check whether there is a drone task node that has been offline. If so, release the resources of the drone task node that has been offline, and then go to step S12; if not, go to step S14; Step S14, check whether there is a transmitter task node in the launched state. If so, release the resources of the transmitter task node in the launched state and go to step S12; if not, go to step S7.

5. A system for dynamically adjusting communication resources of a drone group, characterized in that: It includes a central node and a task node, and the types of the task nodes include UAV task nodes and launch device task nodes; the UAV task node is a Class A data link terminal deployed on the UAV, the launch device task node is a Class B data link terminal deployed on the launch device, and the central node is a command and control terminal deployed on the ground station; each node is respectively deployed with a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and the processors of each node interact to execute the corresponding computer program to collaboratively implement any of the methods described in claims 1 to 4 above.

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