Centralized Unmanned Vehicle Control for Secure Indoor Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned vehicle control systems face challenges in precisely navigating to specific locations, such as rooms or floors within buildings, and require pre-known landing markers, which can be obstructed or interfered with, leading to inefficiencies and security concerns when used by third parties.
Innovation Solution
A centralized control system that uses processing circuitry and memory to determine and send control instructions for unmanned vehicles, allowing for mission planning and navigation between locations while restricting access to prevent hijacking, using a network interface for communication and switching between automatic and user-based control modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual control of each UV is implemented, then control precision is improved, but labor costs and operational complexity increase exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into hierarchical segments: a centralized server handles high-level mission planning and coordination, while individual UVs execute specific navigation tasks. This segmentation allows precise control of each UV without requiring manual intervention for every vehicle, resolving the contradiction between control precision and operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated control system that acts as a mediator between manual operators and UVs. The centralized server receives mission parameters, computes navigation paths, and sends control instructions to UVs, eliminating the need for direct manual control of each vehicle while maintaining precision through algorithmic path planning.
2Extent of automation
If on-board computations are used for automated navigation, then navigation autonomy is improved, but hardware costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex computation tasks from the UVs and relocates them to a centralized server. The UVs only need to execute received navigation instructions, requiring minimal on-board computational hardware. This extraction maintains navigation autonomy while significantly reducing hardware complexity and costs on individual UVs.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized server provides universal computational services to multiple UVs simultaneously. Instead of each UV having its own complex computation system, a single multi-functional server handles navigation planning for the entire fleet, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining autonomous navigation capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If existing automated navigation systems are used, then navigation capability is improved, but ability to reach specific sub-locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the centralized server continuously receives location data from UVs and adjusts navigation instructions in real-time. This feedback loop enables precise guidance to specific sub-locations by dynamically correcting the UV's path based on its current position and the target coordinates, overcoming the limitation of existing systems that cannot accurately reach specific rooms or floors.
4Measurement precision
If guide markers are used for landing, then landing precision is improved, but system vulnerability to obstruction and interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual guide marker system with an electronic communication-based navigation system. The centralized server transmits digital navigation instructions and coordinates to the UV, which uses its sensors and communication systems to navigate and land. This substitution eliminates vulnerability to physical obstruction of guide markers while maintaining landing precision through electronic guidance.
5Ease of operation
If third parties are given complete access to drones, then ease of operation is improved, but security and risk of malicious use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized server acts as an intermediary that mediates between third-party users and the UVs. Third parties can easily request missions and receive results, but the server maintains security by validating requests, authenticating users, and controlling the actual vehicle operations. This intermediary architecture provides ease of operation for third parties while maintaining security and preventing malicious use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables third parties to self-service by submitting mission parameters and receiving automated responses from the centralized server. Users can easily request drone services through the system interface without needing direct vehicle access or technical knowledge, while the server's automated validation and control mechanisms ensure security. This self-service model improves accessibility while maintaining security through automated processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for centralized control of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a processing circuitry; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the apparatus to: establish control of a vehicle, wherein establishing the control further includes determining a set of instructions for controlling the vehicle, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the vehicle based on the determined set of instructions; determine, for a node, a subset of the set of instructions for controlling the vehicle; generate a mission plan for the vehicle based on a request from the node when the request is valid, wherein the request indicates a requested navigation from a first location to a second location, wherein the request is not valid when the requested navigation is not in the subset of instructions; and send, to the vehicle, control instructions for navigating to the first location and control instructions for navigating from the first location to the second location based on the mission plan.