Drone Base-Station Positioning for GPS-Denied Flight Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drones face challenges in maintaining accurate positioning under bad weather or in terrain environments with poor signal reception, as they rely on GPS signals from satellites which can be interfered with or unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A drone communication system and method that utilizes a network of base stations to provide reliable positioning information to drones. This system includes a parking apron apparatus that communicates with multiple base stations to obtain their coordinates, estimates additional base station coordinates, and stores these to provide them to the drone, allowing it to perform automatic flight missions even without satellite GPS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS satellite signals are used for positioning, then positioning can be achieved under normal conditions, but positioning reliability deteriorates in bad weather or terrain environments with poor signal reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground-based base stations as intermediary objects to establish a wireless communication network for positioning. Instead of relying solely on satellite signals that are blocked by terrain and weather, the system uses local base stations that can communicate with drones through ground-level wireless channels, thereby mediating the positioning function to overcome signal interference from adverse environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the positioning system into multiple distributed base stations rather than relying on a single satellite system. By dividing the coverage area into zones served by different base stations and implementing multi-hop communication protocols, the system can maintain positioning reliability even when individual base stations or satellite signals are blocked by terrain or weather conditions
2Reliability
If multiple base stations are deployed to form a flight field, then positioning reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs base stations with multi-functional capabilities, serving simultaneously as communication relays, positioning reference points, and data storage nodes. Each base station can perform multiple functions including wireless communication with drones, storing coordinate information, and participating in multi-hop communication routes, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated components and lowering overall system complexity despite having multiple distributed stations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where base stations automatically discover and register new base stations in the network through multi-hop communication. When a new base station is deployed, it autonomously communicates with existing base stations to obtain network synchronization and coordinate information without requiring manual configuration, thereby reducing the operational complexity of deploying and maintaining multiple base stations
Data Source
AI summary
A drone communication system and an operation method thereof are provided. The operation method of the drone communication system is applicable for obtaining a plurality of base station coordinates corresponding to a plurality of base stations in a flight field. The operation method includes the following steps: communicating with at least three base stations adjacent to a parking apron apparatus to obtain at least three base station coordinates of the at least three base stations; communicating with another base station adjacent to the at least three base stations through the at least three base stations; estimating another base station coordinate of the another base station according to the at least three base station coordinates of the at least three base stations; and storing the plurality of base station coordinates and providing the plurality of base station coordinates to a drone parked on the parking apron apparatus.