Drone Ground-Effect Sensing for Surface Detection in Bad Weather
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated aerial vehicles (AAVs) face challenges in accurately sensing surfaces, particularly in adverse weather conditions, where primary sensors may fail or become inoperable, leading to potential collisions with the ground or other surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The system utilizes the ground effect phenomenon, where the airflow from propellers interacts with surfaces, allowing for reduced power consumption and proximity sensing by monitoring parameters such as voltage, current, or thrust, serving as a backup to primary sensors to ensure safe operation and avoid collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If primary sensors are used for surface sensing, then sensing accuracy is improved under normal conditions, but reliability deteriorates in adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the sensing parameter from optical/electromagnetic (primary sensors) to aerodynamic (ground effect sensing). By monitoring changes in airflow parameters around the propellers caused by ground effect, the system achieves reliable surface proximity detection that works in all weather conditions, not just clear weather.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces airflow as an intermediary medium between the AAV and the surface. Instead of directly sensing the surface with primary sensors that fail in adverse conditions, the patent uses the propeller-generated airflow as a mediator that interacts with the surface and provides sensing information through ground effect on the airflow patterns.
2Reliability
If ground effect sensing is used as backup, then reliability is improved in adverse conditions, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the propellers' own airflow field for sensing purposes. The propellers generate airflow for propulsion, and this same airflow interacts with the ground to provide sensing information. This self-service approach allows the propulsion system to dual-function as both motor and sensor, avoiding the need for completely separate sensing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The propellers serve multiple functions: propulsion and ground effect sensing. By designing the propeller system to provide both functions, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate primary sensors and backup sensors, as the same component (propellers) performs dual roles.
3Reliability
If ground effect sensing is utilized, then a secondary sensing mechanism is provided for adverse conditions, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the propellers' own airflow field for sensing purposes. The propellers generate airflow for propulsion, and this same airflow interacts with the ground to provide sensing information. This self-service approach allows the propulsion system to dual-function as both motor and sensor, avoiding the need for completely separate sensing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the propulsion function and sensing function into a single system. The propellers provide both thrust and ground effect sensing capabilities, combining what would traditionally be separate systems into one integrated solution, thereby reducing total power consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the reliability of AAVs by providing a secondary sensing mechanism that operates even in adverse conditions, allowing for safe navigation and landing by determining surface proximity and profile, thereby preventing damage from collisions.
Implementation Method 1
A ground effect occurs when an AAV is close enough to a surface (e.g., the ground) such that the airflow that is created by one or more of the propellers of the AAV is directed against the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle are provided wherein influences of ground effects (e.g., which may increase the effective thrusts of propellers by interfering with the respective airflows) are utilized for sensing the ground or other surfaces. In various implementations, operating parameters of the automated aerial vehicle are monitored to determine when ground effects are influencing the parameters associated with the propellers, which correspondingly indicate proximities to a surface (e.g., the ground). Such ground effect sensing techniques may be utilized as a backup to other sensors (e.g., which may be determined to not be functioning properly and/or may be otherwise inhibited due factors such as to rain, snow, fog, reflections, bright sunlight, etc.).