Drone Remote Control Relay for Concealing Pilot Position

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Solution Overview

Problem

The exposure of a drone pilot's position during flight tasks poses security and privacy risks, as the pilot's location is often revealed when controlling the drone using a remote controller.

Innovation Solution

A drone control system with at least two interconnected remote control terminals, including a primary and a substitute terminal, where the substitute terminal handles data transmission while its image transmission function is disabled, allowing the primary terminal to remain hidden, thus protecting the pilot's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the primary remote control terminal directly transmits control data to the drone, then the control operation is simple and direct, but the position of the drone pilot is exposed, compromising security and privacy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition securityVSAvoidcontrol system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a substitute remote control terminal as an intermediary device between the primary remote control terminal and the drone. The substitute terminal forwards control data from the primary terminal to the drone, thereby concealing the position of the primary terminal and protecting the pilot's location information while maintaining the control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is segmented into multiple functional components: the primary remote control terminal for operation input, the substitute remote control terminal for data forwarding, and the drone for execution. This segmentation allows the primary terminal to remain hidden while still enabling full control capability through the distributed system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the substitute remote control terminal has full functionality enabled, then it can independently control the drone, but the position exposure risk increases and security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition securityVSAvoidcontrol functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The substitute remote control terminal is configured with selective functionality: image transmission function remains enabled to receive and forward drone imagery, while other control functions are disabled. This local quality differentiation allows the substitute terminal to perform its data forwarding role without gaining independent control capability, thus maintaining security while ensuring operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the primary remote control terminal remains stationary to maintain position secrecy, then security is improved, but the pilot loses mobility and operational flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition securityVSAvoidpilot mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a functional copy through the substitute remote control terminal that can be positioned differently from the primary terminal. The substitute terminal replicates the data forwarding capability while having its own independent position, allowing the primary terminal to remain stationary for security while the system as a whole gains operational flexibility through the substitute's mobile capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4657196A1Display method, remote control apparatus, and unmanned aerial vehicle system
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 AUTEL ROBOTICS CO LTD
  • EP4657196A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4657196A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4657196A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This application provides a drone control method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium, applied to a drone remote control system. The drone remote control system comprises at least two interconnected remote control terminals, the at least two remote control terminals include a primary remote control terminal and a substitute remote control terminal corresponding to the primary remote control terminal, and a function other than an image transmission function of the substitute remote control terminal is in a disabled state. The method comprises: obtaining, by the primary remote control terminal, drone control data to be sent to a target drone; and sending, by the primary remote control terminal, a data forwarding message to the substitute remote control terminal, where the data forwarding message carries the drone control data, and forwarding, by the substitute remote control terminal, the drone control data to the target drone. Based on the technical solution, a position can be in a hidden state when a drone pilot controls a drone by using the primary remote control terminal, thereby protecting the position of the drone pilot.