Autonomous Flight Control Contingency Maneuver System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flight termination systems for unmanned aircraft require human operator input to prevent mid-air collisions, which can lead to errors, and are often too expensive and bulky for smaller aircraft, limiting their effectiveness in autonomous collision avoidance.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically initiates contingency maneuvers using onboard processing units and sensors like GPS and ADS-B receivers to detect potential conflicts and alter the aircraft's flight path without external input, ensuring collision avoidance without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing flight termination systems are used with human operator input, then collision avoidance capability is provided, but human error and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flight termination system automatically monitors flight parameters, detects deviating conditions, and initiates contingency maneuvers without requiring human operator intervention. The processing unit continuously compares actual flight data against safe operating parameters and autonomously triggers safety protocols when threats are detected, eliminating human error while maintaining collision avoidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the processing unit monitors flight data from sensors, compares it against predefined safe operating parameters, and automatically adjusts flight control surfaces or initiates contingency maneuvers when deviating conditions are detected. This closed-loop control ensures reliable collision avoidance through real-time automated decision-making
2Reliability
If existing flight termination systems are deployed, then collision prevention is achieved, but cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flight termination system is designed to be integrated with existing flight control and navigation systems, allowing single components to serve multiple functions. The processing unit leverages existing sensors and flight control actuators, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware and reducing overall system weight while maintaining collision prevention capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses software-based implementations and virtual instrumentation to replicate complex flight termination functions without requiring heavy physical hardware. By utilizing existing flight data streams and control interfaces, the system achieves full collision prevention functionality with minimal additional weight
3Reliability
If automatic contingency maneuvers are implemented, then human error is eliminated, but automation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines safe operating parameters, contingency maneuvers, and decision logic during system configuration and initialization. By establishing all decision-making rules and safety thresholds beforehand, the automated system can execute reliable error-free operations without requiring complex real-time decision algorithms, thereby reducing automation complexity while maintaining high reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems may allow for automatic initiation of a contingency maneuver, to prevent mid-air collisions between an aerial vehicle and another aircraft or other obstacle, without requiring input from an operator. Generally, a processing unit on board the aerial vehicle detects potential conflicts via a navigation system on board the aerial vehicle. Said navigation system may receive, for example, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) signals and global positioning system (GPS) data. Disclosed systems automatically initiate one or more contingency maneuvers to change the flight (e.g., speed, position, direction, and/or altitude) of the aerial vehicle to avoid close calls or colliding with a potential conflict in the surrounding airspace. Such contingency maneuvers provide an automatic flight modification that may occur independently from any operator input. Such systems may also be implemented to prevent an aerial vehicle from entering a restricted airspace and/or from operating too close to another aircraft.