Drone Flight Area Control for Return-Before-Sunset Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drone control systems fail to ensure drones return before the end of the permitted flight time, especially when the drone's position at the time of instruction is not favorable for returning before sunset, leading to potential violations of flight regulations.

Innovation Solution

A drone system that includes a controller, communicator, time measurer, position measurer, and storage unit, which determines the flight possible area based on the difference between the end of the permitted flight time and the current time, and automatically moves the drone back to a safe area if it exceeds this area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the drone is allowed to fly freely without area restrictions, then the drone's flight freedom is improved, but the risk of violating flight regulations (such as returning after permitted time) increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight freedomVSAvoidcompliance with flight regulations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining the flight possible area in advance based on the permitted flight time and current position. The controller calculates the area where the drone can safely return before the permitted time expires, and establishes boundary information before the drone operates, preventing regulatory violations proactively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the drone's position relative to the determined flight possible area boundary. The controller receives position information, compares it with the boundary, and provides feedback control to ensure the drone remains within the compliant area or returns before time expires

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the flight possible area is determined based on time difference and position, then the drone can ensure timely return before permitted time ends, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetimely return assuranceVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs multiple functions using a unified approach: it determines the flight possible area, calculates boundary information, monitors drone position, and enforces compliance all through the same time-based calculation mechanism. This multi-functional design avoids adding separate complex subsystems while ensuring timely return

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the flight possible area parameters (boundary coordinates, radius) based on the time difference between current time and permitted end time. As time progresses, the parameters are recalculated to reflect the shrinking window for safe return, providing reliable timing control through mathematical parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11551559B2Drone, method for controlling flight, and recording medium storing program

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

A drone is provided that includes a controller, a time measurer that measures a present time, a position measurer that obtains a current position of the drone, and a storage that stores a time period for which the flight of the drone is permitted. The controller performs operations including determining a possible flight area of the drone in accordance with a difference between an end of the time period for which flight of the drone is permitted and the present time, and determining whether the drone is located within the possible flight area on the basis of the current position of the drone.