Drone Air Traffic Control via Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air traffic control systems are inadequate for managing the large number of drones, as they require communication for flight control and cannot scale to accommodate the proliferation of drones, especially autonomous ones, due to the sheer quantity and differing operational requirements compared to traditional aircraft.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a drone air traffic control system utilizing wireless networks for communication and management, which includes dynamic flying lane management, collision avoidance, and integration with existing wireless infrastructure to provide real-time control and navigation for drones, using a modified Inevitable Collision State (ICS) for collision prediction and avoidance, and employing an elevator or tube lift for drone takeoff and landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing air traffic control networks are used for drone management, then traditional aircraft control standards are maintained, but the system cannot scale to accommodate the large quantity of drones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air traffic control system into drone-specific and traditional aircraft-specific subsystems. The drone air traffic control system operates independently with specialized protocols for low-altitude autonomous drones, while the traditional system handles manned aircraft. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific requirements, enabling the overall system to handle both drone proliferation and traditional air traffic simultaneously without mutual interference.
2Ease of operation
If communication is required for flight control of each drone, then precise control is achieved, but the system complexity increases beyond what existing networks can handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where autonomous drones perform their own flight control decisions and collision avoidance maneuvers without requiring constant human operator intervention or complex centralized control. The drones use onboard sensors and processors to independently navigate, avoid obstacles, and maintain separation from other drones, significantly reducing the communication burden on the air traffic control network while maintaining safe operation.
3Productivity
If autonomous flight is enabled for drones, then operational efficiency increases, but the requirement for communication and control systems becomes more demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-programming autonomous drones with flight paths, navigation instructions, and operational parameters before they take off. The air traffic control system provides detailed pre-flight briefings and route planning, allowing drones to execute their missions autonomously without requiring continuous real-time communication during flight. This reduces the ongoing communication burden while maintaining high operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Flying lane management systems and methods implemented in an air traffic control system communicatively coupled to one or more passenger drones via one or more wireless networks include initiating communication to the one or more passenger drones at a preflight stage for each, wherein the communication is via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the plurality of passenger drones each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers; determining a flying lane for the one or more passenger drones based on a destination, current air traffic in a region under management of the air traffic control system, and based on detected obstructions in the region; and providing the flying lane to the one or more passenger drones are an approval to takeoff and fly along the flying lane.