Drone Mesh Network Line-of-Sight Evaluation Around Obstructions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Navigation and communication of drones in complex environments, especially in areas with limited infrastructure, are unreliable and difficult, particularly for autonomous or semi-autonomous drones.

Innovation Solution

A spatial obstruction database represents physical features as abstracted spatial obstructions, allowing drones to evaluate line-of-sight paths and communication links using a mesh network generation system that optimizes drone positions and communication links to avoid obstructions, utilizing techniques like RRG exploration and R-tree data structures for efficient query and resource conservation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional navigation and communication systems are used in complex environments, then infrastructure requirements are reduced, but reliability and communication quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation and communication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mesh network as an intermediary communication infrastructure between drones and ground control, using multiple drones as relay nodes to maintain communication links through complex environments. This intermediary network enables reliable communication without relying on traditional infrastructure by creating alternative signal paths through the drone swarm itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary path planning and communication link establishment before drones enter complex environments. By pre-calculating navigation paths and establishing mesh network connections in advance, the system ensures reliability is maintained even when infrastructure is unavailable, avoiding the need for complex real-time adaptations during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If autonomous navigation is implemented in restricted environments, then operational flexibility is improved, but navigation reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidnavigation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous feedback mechanisms where drones share environmental data, obstacle information, and position updates with the network. This collective feedback enables autonomous drones to adapt to restricted environments while maintaining navigation reliability through real-time information exchange and cooperative decision-making within the mesh network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Each drone in the network serves multiple functions simultaneously: navigation, communication relay, obstacle detection, and path planning for the entire swarm. This multi-functionality allows autonomous operation in restricted environments while maintaining reliability through the versatile capabilities of each network node.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If detailed spatial analysis is performed for line-of-sight evaluation, then communication link quality is improved, but computational resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication link qualityVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the spatial analysis into discrete evaluation zones along potential communication links. By dividing the continuous space into segments and evaluating line-of-sight conditions in each segment separately, the system achieves detailed communication quality assessment while reducing computational load through modular processing of spatial data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial spatial analysis by evaluating only the critical portions of the environment that affect communication links, rather than analyzing the entire space. This selective approach maintains communication link quality through sufficient line-of-sight evaluation while conserving computational resources by avoiding unnecessary analysis of irrelevant areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250321588A1Systems and methods for line-of-sight evaluation in drone networks

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate the navigation and communication of drones, including autonomous and semi-autonomous drones. These various embodiments facilitate the navigation and communication of such drones by providing for the evaluation of line-of-sight paths, including communication links and navigation paths. For example, the systems and methods can facilitate evaluation of line-of-sight paths for navigation and communication using a spatial obstruction database. In these embodiments the spatial obstruction database can abstract obstructions in a variety of ways, including as defined subregions. As will be described below, these systems and methods are particularly applicable to the navigation and communication of autonomous and semi-autonomous drones that may have limited processing and memory capabilities.