Drone Relay Positioning for GNSS Denied Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems fail to specify the position of a terminal apparatus when it cannot receive GNSS signals, such as when buried in snow or soil, or when the GNSS signal reception function is turned off.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a drone-mounted radio relay apparatus with a directional antenna, a GNSS reception apparatus, and an information processing apparatus that estimates the terminal's position based on reception power or quality measurements from radio waves transmitted by the drone, even in GNSS non-receiving conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a terminal apparatus uses GNSS signals for position specification, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system fails when the terminal is buried in snow/soil or GNSS reception is turned off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a drone-mounted radio relay apparatus as an intermediary between the terminal apparatus and the position specification system. The drone transmits radio waves that the terminal measures, and the drone's GNSS position combined with reception measurements enables position estimation without requiring the terminal to directly receive GNSS signals. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing positioning capability when direct GNSS reception fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct GNSS signal reception mechanism with an indirect measurement mechanism. Instead of the terminal directly receiving satellite signals, the system uses the terminal's measurement of radio wave reception power/quality from the drone, combined with the drone's known position, to estimate the terminal's position through information processing. This substitution allows positioning to work when direct satellite signal reception is unavailable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a drone-mounted radio relay apparatus is used for position estimation, then positioning capability in GNSS non-receiving conditions is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drone-mounted radio relay apparatus serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication relay station for mobile communication and simultaneously functions as a position estimation platform by transmitting radio waves for reception measurement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated positioning systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal apparatus uses its existing radio communication reception capability to measure reception power or quality of radio waves from the drone. The terminal's normal communication function serves dual purposes: maintaining mobile communication and enabling position estimation through reception measurements. This self-service approach avoids adding dedicated positioning hardware to the terminal, limiting complexity increase.
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
Enables accurate positioning of terminal apparatuses in GPS non-receiving conditions by using a drone to relay radio communication and measure reception power or quality, effectively overcoming the limitations of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a control apparatus for controlling to transmit radio waves from the directional antenna toward the ground
Implementation Method 2
a GNSS reception apparatus for receiving GNSS signals from artificial satellites
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided of a system capable of estimating a current position of a terminal apparatus, even if a terminal apparatus for mobile communication is in a condition of non-receiving or inability to receive GNSS signals. A radio relay apparatus, in which a relay station mounted on a drone, transmits radio waves from a directional antenna toward the ground while flying in an upper airspace above a target area on the ground, and transmits position information on its own apparatus obtained based on the GNSS signal, to an information processing apparatus. The terminal apparatus measures a reception power or a reception quality of radio waves transmitted from the radio relay apparatus, and transmits reception measurement information regarding the measurement result of the reception power or the reception quality, to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus estimates the position of the terminal apparatus in the target area, based on the position information from the radio relay apparatus received in a flight time period during which the radio relay apparatus flies in the upper airspace above the target area and the reception measurement information from the terminal apparatus. The information processing apparatus may estimate the position where the reception power or the reception quality from the terminal apparatus is maximum, as the position of the terminal apparatus.