Aircraft Superhighway Nodes for UAV Detection and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft, especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), lack the necessary detection and communication capabilities to safely operate beyond line-of-sight in shared airspace, due to the absence of robust and ubiquitous onboard sensors and communication systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an aircraft superhighway system, which utilizes a network of spaced apart superhighway nodes with communication and surveillance capabilities. These nodes provide overlapping wireless communication and surveillance coverage areas, forming a continuous airspace corridor that allows for the authorization, control, and monitoring of UAVs operating within defined air corridors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If onboard sensors and communication systems are equipped on UAVs to enable beyond line-of-sight operation, then detection and communication capabilities are improved, but cost and weight of the UAV increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground-based superhighway nodes as intermediary infrastructure to provide detection and communication services. Instead of equipping each UAV with expensive onboard sensors and communication systems, the system uses distributed ground nodes that overlay existing cellular networks and provide surveillance coverage, thereby enabling beyond line-of-sight operation without substantially increasing UAV weight
Solution Approach 2:
The superhighway nodes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide wireless communication coverage for UAV control and telemetry, surveillance coverage for hazard detection, and act as relay points for beyond line-of-sight communication. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized equipment on each UAV
2Reliability
If expensive onboard sensors are equipped on aircraft to detect hazards, then detection capability is improved, but accessibility and ubiquity of the technology decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ground-based superhighway nodes as intermediaries to provide hazard detection capabilities to all UAVs operating in the covered airspace. Instead of requiring each aircraft to have its own expensive sensors, the ground nodes perform surveillance and share hazard information with all UAVs, making advanced detection capability universally accessible
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the detection capabilities of multiple ground-based superhighway nodes to create a comprehensive surveillance network that covers the entire airspace corridor. This shared detection infrastructure benefits all UAV operators rather than requiring individual investment in expensive onboard sensors
3Reliability
If robust communication services are provided to ensure UAV controllability, then safety is improved, but the cost and weight of required equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces superhighway nodes as intermediary communication relays that overlay existing cellular infrastructure. These nodes provide robust, low-latency communication for UAV control and telemetry by creating dedicated communication pathways, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex specialized communication equipment on each UAV
Solution Approach 2:
The superhighway nodes provide multiple communication services simultaneously: control command transmission, telemetry reception, beyond line-of-sight relay communication, and coordination with air traffic control systems. This multi-functional communication infrastructure reduces the need for multiple separate communication systems on each UAV
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for an aircraft superhighway system comprising: at least one superhighway node and/or a plurality of spaced apart superhighway nodes/towers, wherein each superhighway node/tower has an overlapping coverage area (e.g. wireless communication coverage area and/or surveillance coverage area) with the coverage area of another adjacent superhighway node/tower and the airspace within each of the coverage areas forming a continuous airspace corridor or aircraft superhighway; and a superhighway controller in communication with at least one of the superhighway nodes/towers; wherein the superhighway controller is configured to use the superhighway nodes/towers for authorising, monitoring and controlling air traffic permitted to transit a flight path within one or more portions of the airspace corridor or aircraft superhighway.