Delivery Drone Failsafe Arming with 3D Flight Tunnel Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for civilian last-mile delivery is hindered by safety and security concerns, particularly regarding how to safely handle deviations from navigational plans to ensure civilian safety.
Innovation Solution
A failsafe system is implemented for UAVs, which includes generating a navigation plan with a virtual 3D tunnel and configuring the UAV to terminate navigation by cutting power to its propulsion system and deploying a failsafe, such as a parachute or airbag, when the UAV exits the 3D tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a failsafe system is implemented to terminate navigation when the UAV exits the 3D tunnel, then civilian safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation plan pre-defines a safe 3D tunnel corridor and designated landing zones before the UAV deploys. The failsafe system only needs to check whether the UAV exits this pre-defined tunnel, rather than making complex real-time safety decisions. This preliminary preparation simplifies the failsafe logic while ensuring civilian safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The 3D tunnel acts as an intermediary spatial boundary that mediates between the UAV's navigation freedom and safety constraints. The failsafe system monitors tunnel exit conditions and triggers navigation termination when violated. This intermediary structure simplifies the safety control mechanism while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If the UAV is configured to terminate navigation by cutting power to the propulsion system, then safety is improved, but loss of time occurs during the termination process
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation plan pre-identifies safe landing zones along the intended flight path within the 3D tunnel. When the failsafe triggers navigation termination, the UAV can immediately proceed to these pre-planned landing zones without requiring complex real-time path recalculation, minimizing time loss while ensuring safety.
3Ease of manufacture
If the failsafe is not integral to the drone, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The failsafe system is segmented into separate functional modules: the navigation plan generation (containing the 3D tunnel definition), the monitoring function (detecting tunnel exit), and the termination function (cutting power and deploying failsafe). This modular segmentation allows the failsafe to be integrated as a separate system rather than being built into the drone's core structure, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining reliability through clear functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for safely terminating navigation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method includes generating a navigation plan for the UAV, the UAV including a propulsion system, wherein the navigation plan includes at least a start point, an end point, and a virtual three-dimensional (3D) tunnel connecting the start and end points; and configuring the UAV to execute the navigation plan by navigating from the start point to the end point, wherein the UAV is configured such that the UAV executes the navigation plan by navigating from the start point to the end point, wherein the UAV is further configured such that the UAV terminates navigation by terminating power to the propulsion system of the UAV and deploying a failsafe, wherein the UAV is configured to terminate navigation when the UAV is outside of the 3D tunnel.