Drone Navigation Aid Automating Air Traffic Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drone navigation systems face challenges in non-segregated airspace, particularly in managing communication with air traffic control, which is labor-intensive and bandwidth-heavy, and lacks automation for repetitive tasks, leading to increased operator workload and potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A navigation aid system for drones that includes data transmission means for voice and text communication, flight event detection, message generation, and conversion capabilities, allowing for automated communication with air traffic controllers using voice or CPDLC modes, reducing operator burden and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operator communicates with the air traffic controller using voice messages through the drone, then communication is established, but the operator's attention is monopolized by managing phraseology and the bandwidth is heavily exploited
Solution Approach 1:
The drone is equipped with automatic identification and communication capabilities, allowing it to independently manage phraseology and communicate with air traffic controllers without requiring the operator to manually handle communication tasks. The drone's onboard systems automatically generate and transmit standardized phraseology, freeing the operator from this burden while maintaining reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual voice communication mechanism with an automated digital communication system. Instead of the operator speaking voice messages that are converted to analog signals, the system uses digital data transmission with automatic phraseology generation and transmission, reducing bandwidth consumption and eliminating the need for manual phraseology management.
2Reliability
If the operator telephones the controller directly, then communication is established, but the controller must individually manage each drone and the operator still handles all phraseology
Solution Approach 1:
The drone acts as an intermediary communication device between the operator and the air traffic controller. The drone's onboard communication system automatically handles phraseology generation and transmission, serving as a mediator that manages the communication protocol and reduces the complexity for both the operator and the controller. The controller interacts with the drone's automated system rather than directly with the operator.
3Productivity
If digital transmission is used between the operator and the drone, then communication efficiency is improved, but the bandwidth is heavily exploited for voice message transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog voice transmission with digital data transmission. Instead of converting voice messages to analog signals for VHF transmission, the system transmits digital phraseology directly as data packets. This substitution dramatically reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining communication efficiency, as digital text messages require far less bandwidth than analog voice signals.
4Ease of operation
If the drone is equipped with sophisticated navigation functions, then the operator's remote management is assisted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drone is equipped with onboard systems that automatically perform navigation functions, flight parameter monitoring, and communication protocol management. These self-service capabilities assist the remote operator without requiring the operator to directly manage complex systems. The drone independently handles phraseology generation, message scheduling, and flight parameter monitoring, reducing the operational burden on the operator.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The system has a digital data transmission unit (P1) allowing an operator to communicate with an air controller based on a vocal type dialogue mode. Flight parameter monitoring units monitor state parameters of an aircraft and navigation parameters. A developing unit develops a message (M1) e.g. text data and voice data, corresponding to a flight event. A message sequencing unit (M2) sequences the message in a list of messages. A message synthesis unit (M3) synthesizes the message in the dialogue mode and generates voice phraseology corresponding to the message.