Distributed Trajectory Voting for Unmanned Vehicle Coordination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for coordinating the flight paths of unmanned vehicles, such as UCAVs, are unreliable due to a single point of coordination, which can fail in dynamic combat environments, leading to loss of coordination in case of communication failure.
Innovation Solution
A distributed system architecture where each unmanned vehicle calculates and votes on trajectories based on shared data from other vehicles, eliminating a single point of failure and ensuring robustness by distributing control functionality onboard each vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single point of coordination (GCS, manned vehicle, or leader UCAV) is used to coordinate flight paths, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but the reliability deteriorates because all UCAVs are lost if the point of coordination is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The coordination functionality is segmented and distributed to each individual UCAV rather than concentrated in a single point. Each UCAV independently performs trajectory calculation and voting, eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining coordination capability across the group.
Solution Approach 2:
Each UCAV is equipped with the capability to independently calculate its own trajectory and participate in the voting process. The vehicles serve themselves by having onboard processing power to perform trajectory calculations and make coordination decisions without relying on external control.
2Reliability
If communication is relied upon for coordination, then centralized control can be implemented, but the system becomes vulnerable to communication failures in dynamic combat environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for communication failures by implementing a voting mechanism that can operate with partial information. Each UCAV has pre-calculated trajectories and can vote based on available data even when communication is interrupted, cushioning against the impact of communication failures.
Solution Approach 2:
Each UCAV uses its local sensors and onboard processing to determine its own trajectory independently. The local quality of each vehicle's perception and calculation capabilities ensures that coordination can continue even when global communication is compromised.
3Reliability
If distributed trajectory calculation is implemented on each UCAV, then reliability is improved by eliminating single point of failure, but the computational load and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each UCAV performs partial trajectory calculations based on locally available sensor data and pre-computed information, rather than performing complete independent navigation. The voting process allows vehicles to use incomplete or partial trajectory data from others, reducing the computational burden on each individual vehicle while maintaining overall system robustness.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating a voted trajectory of a vehicle in a first vehicle. First trajectory data is received from at least one second vehicle in a receiver in the first vehicle. Trajectory data is calculated in a trajectory calculator in the first vehicle. The calculated trajectory data and the received first trajectory data concern a determined vehicle. The determined vehicle is determined from a group including the first and the second vehicles. The voted trajectory of the determined vehicle by a voting process based on the calculated trajectory data and the received first trajectory data.