Aircraft Flight Direction Control Using a Polar Coordinate Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft control systems face difficulties in accurately controlling unmanned aircraft, especially when the aircraft is far away or has a complex structure like a four-axis configuration, as users struggle to determine the real-time orientation and attitude of the aircraft, making it hard to interpret flight direction instructions effectively.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a relative position relationship between the aircraft and a control device, establishing a polar coordinate system with the control device as the origin, and receiving flight direction control instructions based on this system, allowing the aircraft to adjust its flight path without needing to consider its real-time attitude, by varying length or angle values accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a traditional control system is used to control aircraft, then the control system can function, but the user cannot accurately determine the real-time orientation and attitude of the aircraft, making it hard to interpret flight direction instructions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetermination of real-time orientation and attitudeVSAvoidinterpretation of flight direction instructions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a polar coordinate system as an intermediary between the user and the aircraft control system. This coordinate system, with the control device as origin, serves as a mediator that translates user instructions into aircraft movement commands, eliminating the need for users to directly interpret complex aircraft orientation and attitude data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the traditional three-dimensional aircraft control problem into a two-dimensional polar coordinate system problem. By representing aircraft position and orientation in terms of radial distance and angular position relative to the control device, the system simplifies the control dimensionality and makes it easier for users to understand and manipulate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the aircraft is far away or has a complex structure like four-axis configuration, then the aircraft can perform complex maneuvers, but the user struggles to determine real-time orientation and attitude

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplex maneuver capabilityVSAvoidreal-time orientation and attitude detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The polar coordinate system acts as an intermediary that simplifies the detection and measurement of aircraft orientation and attitude. Instead of directly measuring complex three-dimensional orientation data from the aircraft, the system measures the aircraft's position and angular orientation relative to the control device in the polar coordinate system, which is much easier to detect and interpret.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the user must consider the aircraft's real-time attitude for control, then precise control can be achieved, but the control complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The polar coordinate system serves as an intermediary that decouples control precision from control complexity. The system maintains precise control by accurately tracking the aircraft's position and angular orientation in the polar coordinate system, while the control interface remains simple because users only need to understand two-dimensional polar coordinates rather than complex three-dimensional aircraft attitude parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies aircraft control by allowing users to issue commands directly from their perspective, reducing the complexity of controlling aircraft, especially in situations where the aircraft's orientation is difficult to determine, and enabling smoother flight operations.

Implementation Method 1

sensing a sensing signal transmitted by a signal transceiver device at the control device respectively via a plurality of signal sensing devices installed at different positions on the aircraft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

sending detection signals to a signal transceiver device at the control device simultaneously via a plurality of signal transmitting devices installed at different positions on the aircraft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3306432B1Flight control method for an aircraft, control device and computer program to implement the flight control method
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3306432B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3306432B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3306432B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a flight control method and apparatus, and an electronic device. The method includes: a relative position relationship between an aircraft and a control device is determined; a polar coordinate system with the control device as an origin is determined according to the relative position relationship; a flight direction control instruction sent by the control device is received, the flight direction control instruction being generated on the basis of the polar coordinate system; and according to coordinate information about the aircraft in the polar coordinate system, the aircraft is driven to fly in accordance with the flight direction control instruction.