Drone Corridor Segmentation for Airport Airspace Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of controlling air traffic around airports to allow for the safe and efficient operation of a large number of commercial drones, which is essential for package delivery, as existing systems require air traffic control for every drone entry and exit, leading to logistical complexities and potential interference with other air traffic.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating designated outbound and inbound corridors within the air traffic controlled space where only drones are allowed to fly, enabling them to enter and exit without requiring air traffic control, using a swarm system with GPS and vision sensors for navigation and collision avoidance, and recharging facilities at the carrier facility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If drones are allowed to fly freely around the airport, then drone delivery operations can be conducted, but air traffic control interference and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airspace around the airport is segmented into distinct corridors: inbound corridors for drone entry, outbound corridors for drone exit, and exclusion zones for other air traffic. This segmentation allows drones to operate independently in designated paths without requiring continuous air traffic control intervention, while maintaining safety by separating drone traffic from other aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
Automated air traffic control systems and GPS-based navigation serve as intermediaries between drones and traditional air traffic control. The system uses predefined corridors and automated monitoring to manage drone traffic, eliminating the need for direct human air traffic controller intervention while maintaining safety and order.
2Reliability
If traditional air traffic control is used for every drone entry and exit, then safety can be maintained, but operational efficiency and speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Drone flight paths are pre-planned and pre-approved through predefined inbound and outbound corridors. The corridors are established in advance with specific navigation parameters, allowing drones to execute their flight paths autonomously without requiring real-time air traffic control approval for each maneuver, thus maintaining safety while improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Drones are equipped with autonomous navigation systems using GPS and onboard sensors to self-manage their flight paths within the designated corridors. The system performs self-monitoring and self-correction to maintain safe operation without continuous external air traffic control intervention, reducing delays while preserving safety.
3Productivity
If multiple drones operate simultaneously around the airport, then delivery capacity increases, but coordination complexity and collision risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airspace is divided into multiple separate corridors that can accommodate multiple drone streams simultaneously. Each corridor is designated for specific directions (inbound/outbound) and can handle drone traffic independently, allowing multiple drones to operate in parallel without complex coordination, as each drone simply follows its assigned corridor path.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing air traffic controlled flight of a large number of commercial drones each carrying one or more packages in to and out of an air traffic controlled space around an airport. The method includes providing an outbound corridor from a carrier facility through and out of the air traffic controlled space, where the outbound corridor does not allow any other air traffic to fly therein, and allowing the drones to fly through the outbound corridor to leave the air traffic controlled space without requiring air traffic control. The method also includes providing an inbound corridor through the air traffic controlled space to the carrier facility that does not allow any other air traffic to fly therein, and allowing drones to return to the carrier facility through the air traffic controlled space by flying through the inbound corridor without requiring air traffic control.