Abstracted Interfaces for Diverse UAS Communication Hardware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication technologies for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations face challenges such as high capital and operational expenditures, lock-in effects, and inefficiencies in adapting to varying data throughput and frequency bands, leading to over-engineered and costly communication links.
Innovation Solution
An abstracted interface system with multiple sub-interfaces configured for different communication hardware and software, coupled with a unified interface that abstracts away underlying hardware and software complexities, along with a monitoring service to observe communication activity and a data prioritization policy to dynamically select and prioritize data transmission based on operational parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different communication technologies are used to support diverse controlled entities, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases due to needing different hardware and software configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an abstracted interface as an intermediary layer between the unified interface and various sub-interfaces. This abstracted interface manages the complexity of different communication technologies by providing a standardized abstraction layer that translates between the unified interface protocol and diverse underlying communication hardware/software configurations, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The communication interface is segmented into multiple sub-interfaces, each specialized for specific communication technologies or controlled entity types. This segmentation allows the system to handle diverse communication requirements through dedicated interfaces while maintaining a unified external interface, thereby improving versatility without requiring the entire system to accommodate all possible communication variations
2Reliability
If communication infrastructure is over-engineered to handle peak demands, then reliability is improved, but capital expenditure and operating expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic data prioritization policies that adapt to real-time communication conditions and operational requirements. The system dynamically adjusts data transmission priorities based on current network status, operational mode, and urgency levels, allowing the infrastructure to operate efficiently at varying capacity levels rather than requiring over-engineering for peak demands, thereby reducing capital and operating expenses while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes communication parameters such as data priority levels, transmission quality thresholds, and bandwidth allocation based on operational conditions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters rather than maintaining fixed over-engineered infrastructure, the system achieves reliable communication across varying conditions while reducing infrastructure over-capacity costs
3Productivity
If data transmission prioritizes all data equally, then simplicity of operation is maintained, but productivity decreases due to inefficient bandwidth utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the monitoring service continuously observes communication activity and provides data about network conditions, data transmission success rates, and operational parameters. This feedback is used by the data prioritization service to dynamically adjust prioritization policies, optimizing bandwidth utilization and productivity while maintaining ease of operation through automated management rather than manual configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system comprises an abstracted interface comprising a plurality of sub-interfaces differently configured from one another in terms of underlying communication hardware and software supported by the sub-interface. The abstracted interface further comprises a unified interface communicatively coupled with each of the sub-interfaces. Each sub-interface is configured to abstract away its respective underlying communication hardware and software from the unified interface. The unified interface is further configured to provide communication between the communication service and the control center. A monitoring service is configured to observe communication activity and output one or more communication parameters. A data prioritization policy is chosen based upon the one or more communication parameters. Data is selected for transmission based upon the data prioritization policy. The selected data is provided to one or more of the plurality of sub-interfaces selected based upon the data prioritization policy to thereby transmit the selected data.