Drone Fleet Autonomous Coordination via Distributed Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for managing drone operations in military settings lack efficient autonomous and collaborative capabilities, particularly in performing missions that require coordinated communication and task distribution among multiple drones and land vehicles, leading to suboptimal operational time and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a network of land bases and satellite drones that communicate through advanced analysis and examination means, allowing for autonomous, collaborative, and smart mission execution, with temporary interruptions in communication, enabling drones to organize and manage their tasks independently and optimize mission performance without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drones are managed by centralized control systems with continuous communication, then coordination and control are maintained, but operational time is increased and energy consumption is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing communication protocols and coordination rules among drones before mission execution. Drones are pre-configured with autonomous decision-making algorithms that enable them to coordinate tasks and resolve conflicts without real-time centralized intervention, thus maintaining coordination reliability while reducing operational time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the centralized control function into distributed autonomous units. Each drone is equipped with independent task management and decision-making capabilities, allowing the fleet to operate semi-autonomously. This segmentation eliminates the need for continuous centralized communication, reducing operational time while maintaining coordination through pre-established protocols
2Reliability
If drones operate with continuous communication and centralized management, then task coordination is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing scheduled communication intervals rather than continuous communication. Drones exchange status information and coordinate tasks at predetermined intervals, which maintains task coordination reliability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous communication protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by equipping each drone with autonomous task management capabilities. Drones independently monitor their own status, allocate tasks among themselves, and resolve conflicts without constant centralized intervention, reducing communication overhead and energy consumption while maintaining coordination
3Duration of action of moving object
If autonomous management is implemented among drones, then operational independence and mission duration are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a standardized autonomous management protocol that all drones in the fleet follow. Each drone is equipped with multi-functional capabilities including self-diagnosis, task allocation, conflict resolution, and coordination, allowing them to perform multiple functions with a single integrated system, thus extending mission duration without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting the level of autonomy dynamically based on mission requirements and environmental conditions. The system can transition between highly autonomous operation (extending mission duration) and centralized control (reducing complexity) modes, optimizing the balance between mission duration and system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system for performing a collaborative and smart mission assigned over a determined area includes: a plurality of land bases that communicate with one another by communication, analysis, and/or examination means; at least one satellite drone associated with each base of the plurality of land bases, each satellite drone of the at least one satellite drone performing the assigned mission or part of the assigned mission, such that different drones of the at least one satellite drone form a flotilla whose members communicate with each other and directly or indirectly with the plurality of land bases by communication, analysis, and/or examination means respectively assigned to relations of the different drones with each other and of the plurality of land bases with the different drones. The mission is assigned by the plurality of land bases to the flotilla of drones in one or several determined zones.