Autonomous Drone Navigation Server with Blockchain Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to regulate the navigation of autonomous drones in shared airspace with commercial aircraft and navigate around obstacles effectively, considering factors like weather, restricted airspace, and charge/range information, while ensuring secure communication and navigation paths.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that monitors multiple drones within a controlled space, plots additional navigation paths based on existing drones and obstacles, and provides these paths to requesting drones, incorporating weather, air traffic, and charge/range information, while securing paths using data encryption and blockchain technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous drones operate in shared airspace without centralized regulation, then drone autonomy and operational freedom are improved, but safety and collision risk worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a central navigation server as an intermediary between autonomous drones, coordinating airspace usage and path planning. The server receives drone requests, plots safe navigation paths considering obstacles and other drones, and communicates authorized paths back to drones, enabling autonomous operation while maintaining safety through centralized coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the navigation server monitors drone positions and receives real-time requests for path authorization. The server processes these requests, considers current airspace conditions and obstacles, and returns authorized navigation paths, creating a closed-loop control system that balances autonomy with safety.
2Productivity
If the navigation system plots paths based only on current drone positions, then path planning speed is improved, but path safety and obstacle avoidance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining and pre-processing multiple types of information before path plotting: weather data from weather resources, restricted airspace information from aviation authorities, and charge/range information from drones. This advance preparation enables faster, safer path planning by having all necessary constraints and conditions ready in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation server performs multiple functions simultaneously: it monitors drone positions, retrieves weather information, obtains restricted airspace data from aviation authorities, receives drone charge/range information, and plots safe navigation paths. This multi-functional approach consolidates various safety and planning tasks into a single coordinated process, improving both speed and reliability.
3Speed
If navigation paths are transmitted without security measures, then communication speed and accessibility are improved, but security and unauthorized access worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cryptographic hashing to create a unique fingerprint or signature of the navigation path data. Instead of transmitting the entire complex path data securely, the system transmits only the hash value which serves as a verification copy. This allows fast communication while maintaining security, as the hash provides proof of data integrity without requiring encryption of the full path information.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, computer program product and computing system for monitoring a plurality of drones moving within a controlled space; receiving a request from an additional drone seeking permission to move within the controlled space; plotting an additional navigation path through the controlled space based, at least in part, upon the plurality of drones and known obstacles within the controlled space; and providing the additional navigation path to the additional drone.