Low altitude tethered unmanned aerial vehicle transport system and method

Abstract

The application discloses a low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle transportation system and method, and belongs to the technical field of low-altitude transportation and power transmission crossing. The system contains four units of wired unmanned aerial vehicles, power transmission networks, AI intelligent management and ground support. The unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with energy storage batteries, can provide emergency power when the pantograph is separated from the contact network, reconnect wired flight after recovery, and support car transportation and rapid deployment in different places through modular design. The unmanned aerial vehicles continuously take power through the pantograph, realizing theoretically unlimited flight. The power transmission network can access power resources in various regions of the country, and the cost of tower contact network infrastructure and maintenance is much lower than that of traditional transportation. The AI intelligent management unit realizes route planning, multi-machine scheduling and state monitoring, and improves transportation efficiency and safety. The system has no regional restrictions and can be deployed as long as it has power, terrain and airspace adaptation conditions. It can utilize power in various places, replace high-cost highways and railways, adapt to long-distance low-altitude transportation in multiple civilian and military scenarios, and has advantages such as long endurance, flexible deployment and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of low-altitude transportation technology, power transmission technology, and artificial intelligence management technology. Specifically, it relates to a low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system and method, which is particularly suitable for long-distance, high-efficiency low-altitude transportation scenarios in the sparsely populated and energy-rich western regions of my country. Moreover, this technology has no geographical application restrictions and can be deployed and promoted in any region of the country with basic conditions such as power supply and terrain and airspace adaptability. Background Technology

[0002] my country's western region is rich in hydropower, wind power, and photovoltaic power resources, but due to insufficient matching between the capacity of power transmission channels and regional electricity demand, a large amount of surplus electricity during peak and off-peak periods has not been effectively utilized. All regions of the country have different types of surplus renewable energy and idle peak and off-peak electricity resources, and all regions face varying degrees of problems with logistics efficiency and transportation infrastructure costs.

[0003] In recent years, the country has vigorously supported the development of the low-altitude economy. As the core carrier of the low-altitude economy, drone technology has been widely used in logistics distribution, plant protection operations, and power line inspection. However, existing drones generally suffer from insufficient energy storage: lithium batteries have limited energy density, and their flight time is usually only 30-60 minutes, making it impossible to achieve long-distance, heavy-load continuous transportation operations. This seriously restricts the application of drones in cross-regional logistics and emergency transportation in remote areas. This problem is prevalent in drone transportation applications across all regions of the country.

[0004] On the other hand, the western region is sparsely populated and has complex terrain, making the construction costs of traditional transportation infrastructure such as highways and railways extremely high—the cost of a single kilometer of railway can reach tens of millions of yuan. Construction cycles are long, and subsequent maintenance is difficult. Although the state has invested heavily, the returns have been slow, making it difficult to quickly meet the urgent needs of economic development and material transportation in the western region. Other regions across the country, such as remote mountainous areas, islands, and urban-rural fringe areas, also face the problem of high costs for traditional transportation infrastructure and low efficiency in ground transportation, creating a widespread demand for efficient and flexible low-altitude transportation. At the same time, traditional ground transportation methods are limited by road resources, traffic light control, and road congestion, resulting in low transportation efficiency and failing to meet the modern logistics requirements of "efficiency, flexibility, and direct delivery."

[0005] In existing technologies, most solutions to improve the endurance of drones focus on solar-powered drones and hydrogen-fueled drones, but these still suffer from drawbacks such as insufficient energy density, high cost, and complex maintenance. Research on wired drones is mostly limited to short-distance, small-scale industrial scenarios, failing to develop systematic transportation solutions that take into account the energy endowments and traffic conditions of different regions in my country. Furthermore, it has not incorporated artificial intelligence technology to achieve intelligent scheduling and full life-cycle management. Moreover, existing wired drones lack emergency energy storage designs and are prone to losing power when suddenly disconnected from the power grid. Additionally, the deployment methods for drones in different locations are limited, and there is a lack of flexible transport options.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a low-altitude wired drone transportation system that can fully utilize idle power resources in various regions, solve the bottleneck of drone endurance in various regions of the country, reduce transportation construction costs, achieve efficient and intelligent transportation, and has emergency power supply capabilities and flexible deployment capabilities, and can be promoted and operated nationwide. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention aims to solve the following core technical problems: 1. The bottleneck problem of insufficient power storage for drones, which prevents them from carrying out long-distance, continuous transportation operations; the problem of insufficient flight safety for wired drones that suddenly break away from the overhead contact line and have no emergency power. 2. The problem of surplus electricity and peak-valley electricity resources being wasted in western my country and other regions, failing to be effectively converted into energy for transportation; 3. Infrastructure problems in western China and other regions of the country, such as highways and railways, which are characterized by high construction costs, long construction periods, and high maintenance difficulties; 4. The traditional ground transportation methods across the country suffer from low transportation efficiency due to limitations in road resources, traffic lights, and road conditions; 5. The lack of intelligent scheduling and management methods makes it impossible to achieve collaborative operation of multiple drones, optimal route planning, and real-time monitoring of equipment status. 6. The deployment of drones in different locations is limited, lacking convenient vehicle-mounted transport solutions, resulting in insufficient deployment flexibility; 7. Existing wired drone technologies have limitations in geographical application and cannot be widely promoted in areas with the necessary conditions across the country.

[0008] To address the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: Low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transport systems include: The wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit includes a UAV body and a pantograph assembly. The pantograph assembly is used to slide and make contact with the overhead contact line of the power transmission network to continuously obtain electrical energy and provide flight power for the UAV body. The UAV body is also equipped with a built-in energy storage battery to provide emergency flight power for the UAV body when the pantograph assembly is disconnected from the overhead contact line in an emergency. After the contact conditions are restored, the pantograph assembly can re-make contact with the overhead contact line to resume wired power supply and flight. A power transmission network unit, comprising a plurality of poles and a contact network erected between the poles, wherein the contact network is connected to a power supply and is used to provide a continuous power supply for the wired unmanned aerial vehicle unit; The AI ​​intelligent management unit includes a route planning module, an autonomous scheduling module, and a status monitoring module. The route planning module is used to plan the optimal flight route based on the transportation task and environmental information. The autonomous scheduling module is used to allocate tasks and coordinate scheduling of multiple wired drones. The status monitoring module is used to monitor the operating status of the wired drone unit and the power transmission network unit and provide fault warnings. The ground support unit includes a take-off and landing platform, maintenance facilities, and a dispatch center, which provides take-off, landing, maintenance, and dispatch management support for wired UAVs. This system has no geographical application restrictions and can be deployed and operated in any area with basic conditions such as power supply and terrain and airspace adaptability.

[0009] Furthermore, the pantograph assembly draws inspiration from the reverse-current structure design of pantographs on high-speed trains, including a pantograph head, a boom, a base, and a drive mechanism. The pantograph head is made of conductive material and slides in contact with the contact wire. The boom is a foldable or telescopic structure. The drive mechanism is used to control the raising and lowering of the pantograph to achieve connection or disconnection with the contact wire.

[0010] Furthermore, the power supply can be preferentially connected to the surplus power or peak-valley power resources in western my country, or it can be connected to the surplus power and peak-valley power resources of conventional power, renewable energy and other regions of the country, so as to achieve efficient utilization of idle energy and adapt to the energy supply conditions of different regions.

[0011] Furthermore, the AI ​​intelligent management unit also includes a data interaction module, which is used to realize data transmission and information interaction between the wired drone unit, the power transmission network unit and the ground support unit.

[0012] Furthermore, the drone body is a multi-rotor, tilt-rotor, or fixed-wing structure, and can be configured with a cargo compartment or a passenger compartment, suitable for civilian or military transportation scenarios; the drone body adopts a modular and lightweight design, supports car transport mode, and can realize the overall vehicle-mounted transportation and rapid deployment of the drone in different locations, which is convenient for flexible allocation between different regions and adapts to the deployment and promotion needs of various regions across the country.

[0013] Furthermore, the towers are made of lightweight steel or concrete, and the spacing is set according to the flight altitude of the UAV and the terrain conditions. They do not require large-scale occupation of road resources and can flexibly adjust the deployment height, spacing and other parameters according to the terrain, airspace and weather conditions of different areas to meet the deployment requirements of each area.

[0014] Furthermore, the ground support unit also includes energy storage facilities, which are used to store peak and off-peak electricity resources to ensure stable power supply to the power transmission network. The energy storage capacity and type can be flexibly configured according to the power load, power supply characteristics, and energy type of different regions.

[0015] A low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation method, applied to the low-altitude wired UAV transportation system according to any one of claims 1-7, includes the following steps: S1: The AI ​​intelligent management unit receives transportation tasks and analyzes task requirements and environmental information; S2: The route planning module plans the optimal flight route based on mission requirements, environmental information, and power transmission network layout; S3: The autonomous scheduling module assigns the transportation task to the target wired UAV, and the ground support unit completes the UAV take-off and landing preparation and load loading. S4: After the target wired UAV takes off, the pantograph assembly rises and slides into contact with the overhead contact line to obtain continuous electrical energy and convert it into flight power; S5: The target wired UAV continues to fly along the planned route, and the status monitoring module monitors the system's operating status in real time. When the pantograph assembly suddenly detaches from the overhead contact line, the UAV automatically switches to its own energy storage battery for power supply. The autonomous scheduling module simultaneously plans the nearest emergency contact point. After the UAV reaches an area that meets the contact conditions, the pantograph assembly rises again to make contact with the overhead contact line, and wired power supply is restored for flight. The route planning and scheduling strategies can be flexibly adapted to the airspace rules, terrain, weather, and power network layout of different regions to meet the operational needs of each region. S6: After the target wired UAV arrives at its destination and completes its transport mission, the pantograph assembly detaches from the overhead contact line and returns to the take-off and landing platform or performs the next mission.

[0016] Furthermore, in step S5, the autonomous scheduling module adjusts the UAV route or scheduling strategy based on real-time operational data and handles abnormal operating states.

[0017] Furthermore, the environmental information includes at least one of terrain data, meteorological data, no-fly zone information, and battlefield situation information. Corresponding regional feature information can be supplemented according to the actual situation of different deployment areas to improve the adaptability of route planning.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages: 1. Completely solve the bottleneck of drone endurance: By continuously obtaining power through the pantograph and the overhead contact line, drones can theoretically fly indefinitely, completely eliminating the limitation of insufficient battery power, and are suitable for long-distance cross-regional transportation scenarios of thousands of kilometers; equipped with its own energy storage battery, it can provide emergency power supply after sudden disconnection from the overhead contact line, greatly improving the safety and reliability of drone flight.

[0019] 2. Efficiently utilize energy resources across the region: It can prioritize access to surplus electricity and peak-valley electricity resources in the west, and can also adapt to various idle power resources in other regions, converting idle energy in various regions into transportation power, reducing energy waste, improving energy self-sufficiency and controllability, and alleviating the risk of my country's dependence on foreign oil and gas energy.

[0020] 3. Significantly reduce transportation construction costs in various regions: The power transmission network adopts lightweight poles and overhead contact lines, which occupy a small area, have a short construction period, and low maintenance costs, only about 1 / 10 of the cost of traditional highways / railways. It is not only suitable for the vast and sparsely populated areas in the west, but also adaptable to the infrastructure needs of other regions such as remote mountainous areas, islands, and urban-rural fringe areas. It can be deployed at low cost nationwide.

[0021] 4. Significantly improves transportation efficiency and flexibility: Drones are not limited by road resources, traffic lights, or road congestion. They can fly in a straight line at speeds of 120-200 km / h, increasing transportation efficiency by 3-5 times compared to traditional road transport. Transportation routes can be flexibly adjusted to meet both freight and passenger transport needs. Drones support car transport modes, enabling rapid deployment in different locations and adapting to transportation tasks in different regions and scenarios, further enhancing the system's deployment flexibility. The parameters of each unit in the system can be flexibly adjusted according to different regional conditions, with no geographical application restrictions, providing the basic conditions for nationwide promotion and operation.

[0022] 5. Simple structure and convenient maintenance: The modular structure of the drone and pantograph components results in a low probability of failure, convenient maintenance, and significantly lower operating costs compared to traditional transportation tools. This facilitates daily maintenance and operation in various regions across the country, reducing the operating costs of nationwide deployment.

[0023] 6. Intelligent management enhances safety: Integrating AI intelligent management technology enables optimal route planning, autonomous multi-machine scheduling, and real-time status monitoring, avoiding human error and improving system operating efficiency and safety; it also enables intelligent switching of power supply modes and planning of emergency contact points in response to sudden situations such as catenary disconnection, achieving intelligent handling of abnormal states; the AI ​​module can be adapted to the airspace and traffic rules of various regions for intelligent adjustment, meeting the intelligent management needs of full-domain operation.

[0024] 7. Wide range of applications and can be promoted across the entire country: It can cover civilian (logistics distribution, urban and rural commuting, emergency rescue) and military (material supply, battlefield transportation, border patrol) scenarios. It is not only suitable for the transportation needs of the Northwest Development and remote western regions, but also meets the transportation needs of all areas in the country with power supply and terrain and airspace adaptability, such as the eastern coastal areas, central hinterland, remote mountainous areas, and islands. It has broad prospects for promotion and application across the entire country. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the overall architecture of the low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle transportation system of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the functional modules of the AI ​​intelligent management unit of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation method of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0027] The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system proposed in this invention includes the following core units: 1. Wired unmanned aerial vehicle unit The wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit includes the UAV body, pantograph assembly, and power control system. The UAV body adopts a lightweight, high-load-bearing structural design and can be configured with a cargo compartment (suitable for logistics transportation) or a passenger compartment (suitable for commuting and emergency rescue) to meet both civilian and military needs. The power source can be a multi-rotor, tiltrotor, or fixed-wing aircraft to adapt to different flight speeds and takeoff and landing requirements. The UAV body is equipped with a built-in energy storage battery, which uses a high-energy-density lithium iron phosphate battery with a capacity adapted to the UAV model, providing 30-60 kWh / kg of energy. The drone has a few minutes of emergency flight power, meeting the needs for emergency flight, forced landing, or finding a new contact point after a sudden disconnection from the overhead contact line. The drone itself features a modular and lightweight design, allowing for quick disassembly or overall mounting, supporting transport by ordinary freight trucks or special transport vehicles. This enables rapid deployment and allocation of the drone across different locations, facilitating flexible deployment in different regions nationwide and providing hardware support for the system's nationwide deployment and operation. The pantograph assembly is designed based on the reverse energizing principle of high-speed train pantographs, and its core components include the pantograph head, boom, base, and drive mechanism. The pantograph head uses a highly conductive and wear-resistant material (carbon plate) for sliding contact with the overhead contact line, efficiently transferring electrical energy from the contact line to the drone. The boom is foldable / The retractable structure dynamically adjusts the contact attitude between the pantograph and the overhead contact line according to the flight altitude, ensuring stable power transmission. The drive mechanism uses an electric push rod or hydraulic drive, which can quickly control the pantograph's raising and lowering to connect or disconnect from the overhead contact line, adapting to scenarios such as takeoff and landing, obstacle avoidance, and re-connection after sudden disconnection. The power control system converts the electrical energy input from the overhead contact line (such as 27.5kV AC, compatible with high-speed rail power supply standards) into DC or AC power suitable for the drone's motors, driving the rotor / propeller to provide continuous flight power for the drone. It also has an automatic power switching function; when an interruption in overhead contact line power is detected, it can automatically switch to power from its own energy storage battery within 0.5 seconds, ensuring uninterrupted flight power for the drone. It can adapt to the power supply voltage and current standards of different regions, flexibly adjusting the power conversion parameters to meet the power supply adaptation needs of various regions.

[0028] 2. Power transmission network unit The power transmission network unit includes several towers, a contact network erected between the towers, and a power supply. The towers are made of lightweight steel or concrete, with heights determined by the drone's flight altitude (typically 80-150m) and spacing of 300-800m. This eliminates the need for large-scale road space occupation and allows for deployment along existing transmission lines, provincial highways, or planned routes. Construction costs are only 1 / 8 to 1 / 10 of those for railways of the same mileage. The tower height, spacing, and structural materials can be flexibly adjusted according to the terrain, airspace, and meteorological conditions of different regions. For example, in coastal high-wind areas, steel towers with stronger wind resistance can be used, while in mountainous terrain, the tower spacing can be appropriately reduced to ensure the stability of the contact network. The contact network is an overhead flexible / The rigid contact wire (made of copper-magnesium alloy or steel-aluminum composite conductive material) is reliably connected to the power supply, providing a stable power supply for the drone. The voltage level and current parameters of the contact network can be flexibly configured according to the power requirements of the drone. The electrical parameters of the contact network can be adjusted according to the power transmission standards of different regions to adapt to the power supply network of the entire region. Power supply: Priority is given to connecting to the surplus power (hydropower, wind power, and solar curtailment) and peak-valley power resources in western my country. It can also connect to various idle power resources and conventional power supply networks in other parts of the country to achieve efficient utilization of idle energy and reduce transportation costs. At the same time, it can be equipped with energy storage facilities (lithium battery energy storage power station) to store electricity during the off-peak period and discharge during the peak period to ensure the stability of power supply. The capacity and type of energy storage facilities can be flexibly configured according to the power load and energy type of different regions.

[0029] 3. AI Intelligent Management Unit The AI ​​intelligent management unit is deployed in the cloud or a ground dispatch center, and its core includes the following modules: Route planning module: Based on real-time environmental information (terrain, weather, no-fly zones, obstacles), transportation task requirements (destination, load, timeliness, priority), and power transmission network layout, it uses an improved A* algorithm, reinforcement learning, or genetic algorithm to plan the optimal flight route, avoid risky areas, and shorten transportation time; it can optimize the algorithm model according to the airspace rules, terrain, and meteorological characteristics of different regions, supplement regional feature information, and improve the adaptability and safety of route planning; Autonomous dispatching module: Based on the location, status (battery level, load, fault status), and transportation task priority of multiple wired drones, it performs task allocation and collaborative dispatching to avoid route conflicts, optimize resource utilization, and achieve efficient multi-drone collaborative operation; it can flexibly adjust the dispatching strategy according to the number of drones deployed in different regions and the type of transportation task to meet the transportation dispatching needs of each region; Status monitoring module: Through deployment... Sensors (such as pressure sensors, current sensors, and temperature sensors) on the drone, pantograph assembly, and towers collect real-time operational data (pantograph contact pressure, contact network current, motor temperature, and tower tilt) for fault diagnosis and early warning, promptly handling abnormal situations (poor contact, current overload) to ensure safe and stable system operation. Monitoring thresholds can be adjusted according to the environmental characteristics of different areas; for example, increasing the motor temperature monitoring and early warning value in high-temperature areas and increasing the monitoring frequency of pantograph contact pressure in dusty areas. The data interaction module enables low-latency data transmission and information exchange between wired drone units, power transmission network units, and ground support units, providing data support for AI intelligent decision-making. It adopts a multi-protocol compatible transmission method to adapt to different regional communication network conditions, ensuring data transmission stability.

[0030] 4. Ground support unit The ground support unit includes take-off and landing platforms, maintenance facilities, a dispatch center, and energy storage facilities: Take-off and landing platforms: Located at the starting point, ending point, and intermediate nodes of the transportation route (one every 150-250km), providing vertical / horizontal take-off and landing sites for drones. Equipped with GPS / BeiDou positioning devices and an automatic guidance system to assist drones in precise take-off and landing; the platform can integrate a temporary charging interface (optional) to accommodate temporary pantograph detachment scenarios; the deployment density, size, and functional configuration of the take-off and landing platforms can be adjusted according to the terrain and transportation needs of different regions. For example, take-off and landing platforms in island areas can be treated with anti-corrosion measures, while those in remote mountainous areas can be equipped with simple emergency facilities; Maintenance facilities: Used for the inspection, maintenance, and component replacement of drones, pantograph components, and overhead contact lines; due to the simple structure of drones and pantographs and their low failure probability, rapid repairs can be achieved, significantly reducing operation and maintenance costs; the level of maintenance facilities and spare parts reserves can be flexibly configured according to the deployment scale of different regions, providing convenient maintenance support for nationwide deployment; Dispatch center: As an AI... The physical carrier of the intelligent management unit is equipped with a large visual monitoring screen, allowing staff to view the location, status, and transportation task progress of all drones in real time and handle emergencies (extreme weather, equipment failure). It can adopt a management mode that links the cloud and regional sub-centers, adapting to the distributed operation needs of various regions across the country. Energy storage facilities are connected to the power supply to store peak and off-peak electricity resources, smooth out power load fluctuations, and ensure stable power supply to the power transmission network. The energy storage capacity can be flexibly configured according to the power load and power supply characteristics of different regions.

[0031] This invention also provides a low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation method, which is applied to the aforementioned low-altitude wired UAV transportation system. The steps are as described in claims 8-10. The execution logic of this method can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual conditions of different regions, while the core process remains unchanged. It can be implemented in all regions across the country where conditions permit.

[0032] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments: Example 1: Long-distance freight scenario in western region This embodiment applies to a 500km long-distance coal transportation scenario from a hydropower station freight station to a mining area in a western province of my country. The system configuration is as follows: Wired UAV Unit: Utilizing a multi-rotor structure, with a maximum payload of 500kg, equipped with a closed cargo compartment. The cargo compartment features a wear-resistant and dust-proof design, suitable for transporting bulk cargo such as coal. The compartment can automatically open and seal to prevent cargo spillage during transport. It is equipped with a 20kWh self-storage battery, providing 40 minutes of emergency flight power, allowing the UAV to fly to the nearest emergency take-off and landing point after sudden detachment from the contact network. The pantograph assembly adopts a single-arm folding structure, with the pantograph head made of 15mm thick carbon fiber, offering strong wear resistance and a service life of over 8000 hours. The boom can be adjusted within a height range of 0-120m, with a drive mechanism response time ≤2s, quickly adapting to fluctuations in contact network height. The response time for re-establishing contact after detachment is ≤3s. The power control system converts 27.5kV AC power to 400V DC power, driving 6... Each rotor motor has a power of 15kW, a maximum flight speed of 150km / h, and a cruising speed of 120km / h. The flight speed can be dynamically adjusted according to the weight of the cargo to ensure transportation stability. The overall weight of the drone is controlled within 800kg. It adopts a quick-release fixing structure and can be transported as a whole by a 6.8-meter freight truck. The time for off-site deployment from the freight station to the surrounding mining area can be controlled within 2 hours.

[0033] Power transmission network unit: The poles are steel structures, 120m high, 1.2m in diameter, and weigh approximately 2.5 tons, facilitating transportation and installation. They are spaced 500m apart and deployed along the provincial highway, with a total of 1000 poles. The base of each pole is a 2.5m deep concrete foundation, capable of withstanding gale-force winds of up to level 8, suitable for the windy climate of western China. The contact network uses copper-magnesium alloy flexible contact wire with a diameter of 12mm, offering excellent conductivity, low resistance, and power transmission loss ≤3%. It connects to the nighttime peak-valley electricity supply from nearby hydropower stations, with electricity costs only 30% of industrial electricity, significantly reducing transportation energy costs. A 10MWh lithium battery energy storage station is also included, using lithium iron phosphate batteries with a cycle life ≥3000 times, capable of storing approximately 80,000 kWh of surplus nighttime energy, ensuring stable daytime power supply and preventing transportation operations from being affected by power fluctuations from hydropower stations.

[0034] AI Intelligent Management Unit: Deployed on a cloud server with a distributed architecture, it can operate 24 / 7. The route planning module uses an improved A* algorithm, combined with real-time meteorological data (wind, precipitation), terrain data (mountains, rivers), and no-fly zone information, to plan the optimal freight route, reducing average transportation time by 32%. It can also adjust routes according to real-time road conditions to avoid dangerous areas such as landslides and flash floods. The autonomous scheduling module uses a genetic algorithm to allocate tasks to 15 wired drones, improving resource utilization by 45% and enabling multiple drones to fly at off-peak times to avoid route conflicts. The status monitoring module collects data in real time, such as pantograph contact pressure (normal range 0.3-0.5MPa), contact wire current (normal range 50-80A), and motor temperature (normal range -20℃ to 60℃). Through big data analysis, it can predict faults with a fault response time of ≤5min and remotely control drones to make emergency landings on the nearest take-off and landing platform to reduce losses from faults.

[0035] Ground support unit: Equipped with a starting freight station, a final mining area, and three intermediate take-off and landing platforms. Each platform is 20m x 20m in size, featuring non-slip, wear-resistant flooring and windproof shields, ensuring stable take-off and landing of drones even in winds up to level 6. The platforms are equipped with a GPS / BeiDou dual-mode positioning system with a positioning accuracy of ≤1m, assisting drones in precise docking. Maintenance facilities are equipped with professional repair tools and spare parts, enabling routine drone maintenance to be completed within 2 hours and pantograph component replacement within 12 hours. The dispatch center is equipped with a large visual screen to monitor the real-time operating status of all drones, the power supply status of the overhead contact line, and the progress of transportation tasks. It is staffed with two dispatchers and one technician to handle emergencies.

[0036] Workflow: S1: The AI ​​intelligent management unit receives a 500km, 300kg coal transportation task, analyzes the time requirement (delivery within 24 hours) and real-time weather data (wind force 3, no precipitation), and simultaneously obtains the contact network power supply status and UAV idle status; S2: The route planning module plans the optimal flight route along the provincial highway, avoiding mountainous areas and no-fly zones, sets 3 intermediate monitoring points, estimates the flight time at 18 hours, and simultaneously generates emergency backup routes to cope with sudden weather changes; S3: The autonomous scheduling module assigns the task to UAV-001, and ground support unit personnel complete coal loading, cargo compartment sealing checks, and UAV status checks, confirming that the pantograph and power system are normal; S4: UAV-001 takes off vertically to an altitude of 120m, the pantograph rises and makes stable contact with the contact network, obtains power and drives the rotor, cruises along the planned route, and transmits data to the AI ​​in real time during flight. S5: During flight, the status monitoring module monitors the operational data in real time. No abnormalities are found. Staff at intermediate monitoring points simultaneously observe the drone's flight status to ensure a stable contact wire connection. If a sudden contact wire detachment occurs, the drone will automatically switch to its built-in energy storage battery for power, and the scheduling module will simultaneously plan the nearest emergency contact point. S6: After 17.8 hours of flight, UAV-001 arrives at the mine's take-off and landing platform. The pantograph detaches from the contact wire, and the drone lands slowly. Staff complete the coal unloading and drone status check. S7: UAV-001 returns to the freight station, ready to perform the next mission. The AI ​​intelligent management unit updates the mission completion status and drone idle information.

[0037] Note: This embodiment is a typical application in the western region. The system configuration can be flexibly adjusted according to the freight demand and terrain conditions of other regions such as the east and central regions. For example, the eastern coastal region can be adapted to the configuration of light-load, high-speed drones, and the island region can be adapted to the pantograph assembly with stronger wind resistance, both of which can achieve the same efficient transportation effect.

[0038] Example 2: Military Emergency Rescue Scenario This embodiment is applicable to emergency material transportation scenarios in border areas. The system configuration differs from that in Embodiment 1 in the following ways: Wired UAV Unit: Utilizing a tiltrotor structure, it combines vertical takeoff and landing with high-speed level flight capabilities. With a maximum payload of 200kg, it can carry medical supplies (such as first-aid medicines, plasma, and first-aid equipment) and two rescue personnel. Equipped with lightweight bulletproof armor, it can withstand attacks from light weapons. The fuselage is made of impact-resistant materials, adapting to the complex terrain of the border region. It features a 15kWh cryogenic internal energy storage battery, providing 30 minutes of emergency flight power even in temperatures as low as -40℃, meeting the emergency power needs of harsh border weather conditions. The pantograph assembly employs a quick-folding structure, allowing it to fold in 10 seconds. The internal design facilitates takeoff and landing of drones in confined spaces. The propellant head is made of wear-resistant conductive alloy, ensuring stable contact in harsh weather conditions such as rain, snow, and sandstorms. The hydraulic drive mechanism is adapted to operate normally in low-temperature environments (-40℃ to 50℃) and has the ability to re-establish contact in sandstorms, rain, and snow, ensuring stable power supply in complex environments. The drone adopts a transport and fixing structure compatible with military off-road vehicles, allowing it to be transported as a whole by military vehicles, enabling rapid deployment with troops and achieving rapid deployment in different border areas with a deployment preparation time of ≤30 minutes.

[0039] Power transmission network unit: Utilizing mobile poles and a modular design, each pole can be disassembled into three parts for easy transport by military vehicles. Temporary lines can be erected within 24 hours. The overhead contact line features a portable design, with each 50m section capable of rapid assembly and connection to a field power station. This field power station employs a diesel and photovoltaic complementary power supply mode, outputting 27.5kV and providing continuous power for over 72 hours in areas without grid coverage, meeting emergency transport needs. The overhead contact line is equipped with wind-resistant reinforcement devices, capable of withstanding gale-force winds of up to level 10, ensuring stable power supply in windy border environments. This portable power transmission network can be rapidly deployed in any border area, mountainous region, disaster area, or other area without grid coverage nationwide, adapting to the deployment needs of various emergency scenarios.

[0040] The AI-powered intelligent management unit includes a battlefield situational awareness module that integrates military satellite data and real-time battlefield information (enemy fire range, friendly positions, terrain obstacles) to plan safe transport routes, prioritizing emergency rescue missions. Route planning response time is ≤10 seconds, and routes can be adjusted in real-time based on the battlefield situation. The status monitoring module adds a ballistic early warning function, monitoring surrounding ballistic signals through sensors, issuing timely warnings, and adjusting flight altitude to avoid risks. The data interaction module employs encrypted transmission technology to ensure the security of transport mission information and prevent information leakage. It can flexibly connect to different communication networks, such as satellites and private networks, based on the regional characteristics of different emergency scenarios, ensuring the continuity of intelligent management.

[0041] Ground support unit: Equipped with a field maintenance vehicle and a mobile take-off and landing platform. The mobile take-off and landing platform features a foldable design with an unfolded area of ​​15m × 15m. It can be towed by military trucks and moved quickly with the troops, providing immediate maintenance and take-off and landing support. The field maintenance vehicle is equipped with portable inspection equipment and spare parts, enabling it to complete simple repairs of UAV malfunctions within 30 minutes and emergency repairs of the pantograph within 1 hour. It is also equipped with medical first aid equipment, which can quickly provide initial treatment to rescue personnel or transport the wounded after the UAV lands, improving emergency rescue efficiency. The mobile ground support unit can be deployed with the troops nationwide, adapting to the flexible needs of various emergency scenarios.

[0042] This embodiment enables the rapid establishment of temporary low-altitude transport corridors in war or disaster scenarios, continuously delivering supplies and personnel to the front lines or disaster areas. It addresses the vulnerabilities and inefficiencies of traditional transport methods. Compared to traditional military transport helicopters, this system reduces transport costs by over 60%, has unlimited endurance, and can provide 24 / 7 uninterrupted transport, significantly enhancing emergency rescue and resupply capabilities. Note: This embodiment describes a military application in border areas. The system can also be deployed for military / civilian emergency rescue in all suitable areas within China, including inland, coastal, and mountainous regions. Only minor adjustments to equipment parameters based on regional weather and terrain conditions are required for rapid deployment.

[0043] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system, characterized in that, include: The wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit includes a UAV body and a pantograph assembly. The pantograph assembly is used to slide and make contact with the overhead contact line of the power transmission network to continuously obtain electrical energy and provide flight power for the UAV body. The UAV body is also equipped with a built-in energy storage battery to provide emergency flight power for the UAV body when the pantograph assembly is disconnected from the overhead contact line in an emergency. After the contact conditions are restored, the pantograph assembly can re-make contact with the overhead contact line to resume wired power supply and flight. A power transmission network unit, comprising a plurality of poles and a contact network erected between the poles, wherein the contact network is connected to a power supply and is used to provide a continuous power supply for the wired unmanned aerial vehicle unit; The AI ​​intelligent management unit includes a route planning module, an autonomous scheduling module, and a status monitoring module. The route planning module is used to plan the optimal flight route based on the transportation task and environmental information. The autonomous scheduling module is used to allocate tasks and coordinate scheduling of multiple wired drones. The status monitoring module is used to monitor the operating status of the wired drone unit and the power transmission network unit and provide fault warnings. The ground support unit includes a take-off and landing platform, maintenance facilities, and a dispatch center, which provides take-off, landing, maintenance, and dispatch management support for wired UAVs. This system has no geographical application restrictions and can be deployed and operated in any area with basic conditions such as power supply and terrain and airspace adaptability.

2. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pantograph assembly draws inspiration from the reverse-current structure of pantographs on high-speed trains, and includes a pantograph head, a boom, a base, and a drive mechanism. The pantograph head is made of conductive material and slides in contact with the overhead contact line. The boom is a foldable or telescopic structure. The drive mechanism is used to control the raising and lowering of the pantograph to achieve connection or disconnection from the overhead contact line.

3. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply can be preferentially connected to the surplus power or peak-valley power resources in western my country, or it can be connected to the surplus power and peak-valley power resources of conventional power, renewable energy and other regions, so as to achieve efficient utilization of idle energy and adapt to the energy supply conditions of different regions.

4. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The AI ​​intelligent management unit also includes a data interaction module, which is used to realize data transmission and information interaction between the wired drone unit, the power transmission network unit and the ground support unit.

5. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drone body is a multi-rotor, tilt-rotor, or fixed-wing structure, and can be configured with a cargo compartment or a passenger compartment, suitable for civilian or military transportation scenarios; the drone body adopts a modular and lightweight design, supports car transport mode, and can realize the overall vehicle-mounted transportation and rapid deployment of the drone in different locations.

6. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The towers are made of lightweight steel or concrete, and the spacing is set according to the flight altitude of the UAV and the terrain conditions. They do not require large-scale occupation of road resources and the deployment parameters can be flexibly adjusted according to the terrain and airspace conditions of different areas.

7. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ground support unit also includes energy storage facilities, which are used to store peak and off-peak electricity resources to ensure stable power supply to the power transmission network. The energy storage capacity can be flexibly configured according to the power load and power supply characteristics of different areas.

8. A low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation method, characterized in that, Applied to the low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle transport system according to any one of claims 1-7, Includes the following steps: S1: The AI ​​intelligent management unit receives transportation tasks and analyzes task requirements and environmental information; S2: The route planning module plans the optimal flight route based on mission requirements, environmental information, and power transmission network layout; S3: The autonomous scheduling module assigns the transportation task to the target wired UAV, and the ground support unit completes the UAV take-off and landing preparation and load loading. S4: After the target wired UAV takes off, the pantograph assembly rises and slides into contact with the overhead contact line to obtain continuous electrical energy and convert it into flight power; S5: The target wired UAV continues to fly along the planned route, and the status monitoring module monitors the system's operating status in real time; S6: After the target wired UAV arrives at its destination and completes its transport mission, the pantograph assembly detaches from the overhead contact line and returns to the take-off and landing platform or performs the next mission.

9. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation method according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step S5, the autonomous scheduling module adjusts the drone's flight path or scheduling strategy based on real-time operational data and handles abnormal operating conditions. When the pantograph assembly suddenly detaches from the contact wire, the drone automatically switches to its own energy storage battery for power supply. The autonomous scheduling module simultaneously plans the nearest emergency contact point. After the drone arrives at an area that meets the contact conditions, the pantograph assembly rises again to contact the contact wire and resumes wired power supply for flight. Route planning and scheduling strategies can be flexibly adapted to different regions' airspace rules, terrain, weather, and power network layout to meet the operational needs of each region.

10. The low-altitude wired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The environmental information includes at least one of terrain data, meteorological data, no-fly zone information, and battlefield situation information, and can be supplemented with corresponding regional characteristic information according to the actual situation of different deployment areas.

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