Autonomous Drone Gesture Landing Under Wind and Power Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous drones face challenges in safely landing without a controller, balancing battery life and power usage, and navigating in excessive winds, while being lightweight and portable.
Innovation Solution
The autonomous drone recognizes user gestures, such as an open palm, to land safely and adjusts flight plans in response to excessive winds, ensuring safe retrieval and efficient power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the autonomous drone is made lightweight and portable, then ease of operation and portability are improved, but power and thrust capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the drone by implementing gesture-based control and autonomous wind adaptation, allowing the lightweight drone to operate effectively despite reduced thrust capability. The drone adjusts its flight plan and landing behavior based on detected wind conditions, enabling safe operation within power constraints.
2Device complexity
If the autonomous drone lacks a controller, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drone performs self-service by autonomously detecting wind conditions, adjusting its flight plan, and executing landing procedures without external controller intervention. The gesture recognition system allows simple user input (hand gestures) while the drone handles complex navigation and landing decisions independently, combining low complexity with ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the autonomous drone navigates in excessive winds, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drone implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring wind conditions through sensors and adjusting its flight plan accordingly. The system detects excessive wind, communicates this to the flight controller, and executes appropriate responses (return to launch or land in place), ensuring reliable operation adapted to current environmental conditions.
4Duration of action of moving object
If battery power is conserved, then duration of action is improved, but power availability for critical functions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drone applies partial action by implementing gesture-based control which requires minimal power compared to full-featured controllers, and by autonomously managing flight paths to conserve energy. The system maintains sufficient power availability for critical functions (flight control, navigation, landing) while reducing power consumption in non-essential areas, extending battery life without compromising safety.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, computer readable medium and methods for landing an autonomous drone with gestures are disclosed. Example methods include lifting off the autonomous drone in response to an instruction from a person, receiving sensor data, and processing the sensor data to identify a gesture from the person that indicates that the autonomous drone is to land. The autonomous drone recognizes a gesture from a person to land where the gesture is based on a physical movement of the person. In response, the autonomous drone navigates to land the autonomous drone. In some examples, the person presents an open palm to the autonomous drone which causes the autonomous drone to fly to and land on the open palm. In some examples, the person places a hand under the autonomous drone which causes the autonomous drone to land. In some examples, the autonomous drone responds to the person that launched the autonomous drone.