Aerial Searchlight Coverage Control for Complete SAR Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Search and Rescue (SAR) operations face inefficiencies due to lack of effective means to ensure complete area coverage and prevent repeated searches, as existing systems lack real-time feedback and accurate reporting of searchlight coverage.
Innovation Solution
The system controls a searchlight mounted on an aerial vehicle by receiving angular and location data, determining beam coverage, and adjusting the searchlight's direction or the vehicle's location to ensure comprehensive area coverage, displaying historical and current coverage on a map, and dynamically adjusting flight plans to focus on uncovered areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional SAR flight plans and patterns are used, then the aircraft can follow a predetermined search route, but the completeness of area coverage cannot be guaranteed and areas may be searched multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously calculating and reporting the covered area based on searchlight beam position and aircraft location data. The system provides real-time feedback on coverage status, enabling operators to adjust flight plans to ensure complete and non-redundant area coverage during SAR operations.
2Productivity
If multiple aircraft are deployed for large area SAR operations, then coverage capacity increases, but coordination difficulty increases and coverage monitoring becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal coverage reporting system that can be used by multiple aircraft simultaneously. The system calculates covered areas based on each aircraft's searchlight parameters and location, providing a common framework for coordinating multiple aircraft and tracking overall mission progress without requiring complex inter-vehicle communication protocols.
3Productivity
If searchlight beam width is increased to cover more area, then coverage speed increases, but precision of target detection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of searchlight parameters including beam width and intensity based on operational needs. The system can optimize the balance between coverage speed and detection precision by adjusting beam characteristics in response to target probability assessments and operational context, rather than using a fixed beam configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling a searchlight mounted to an aerial vehicle. The systems and methods receive angular data representing a directional angle of a beam of the searchlight and location data representing a global location of the aerial vehicle from a sensor system of the aerial vehicle. The systems and methods determine coverage of the beam of the searchlight on ground based on the angular data and the location data. Based on the coverage of the beam, the aerial vehicle is controlled to change the global location, the display is controlled to depict the coverage of the beam on a map including historical coverage of the beam, and/or the searchlight actuator is controlled to adjust the direction of the beam.