Drone Retrieval Procedure Determination Based on Weather and Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerial vehicles, such as drones, often experience unexpected flight cessation due to strong winds or failures, leading to unpredictable landing locations, necessitating an effective retrieval method.

Innovation Solution

An information-processing device with detection, acquisition, determination, and processing units to assess the situation and determine an appropriate retrieval procedure, which may involve weather conditions, damage level, weight, presence of objects, and landing site attributes to decide between using another drone or manual retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed retrieval method is used for all aerial vehicle failures, then the retrieval process is simple, but it cannot adapt to different situations (weather, damage level, weight, objects)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different retrieval situationsVSAvoidcomplexity of retrieval procedure determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retrieval procedure determination unit dynamically selects retrieval procedures based on real-time situation information including weather conditions, damage levels, weight, and objects. Instead of a fixed procedure, the system adapts the retrieval method by evaluating multiple parameters and determining the most appropriate procedure for each specific situation, making the retrieval process flexible and situation-dependent

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the retrieval approach by evaluating multiple parameters (weather, damage level, weight, objects) and selecting different retrieval procedures based on the combination of these parameters. For example, it determines whether to use aerial retrieval, ground retrieval, or water retrieval based on the situation, effectively changing the retrieval method according to parameter variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If aerial retrieval is used for all cases, then retrieval speed is fast, but it cannot handle heavy or damaged aerial vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrieval speedVSAvoidcapability to handle different weight and damage conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system evaluates the weight and damage level as key parameters to determine the retrieval method. For lightweight and minimally damaged aerial vehicles, aerial retrieval is selected for speed. For heavy or severely damaged vehicles, the system switches to ground or water retrieval methods, effectively changing the retrieval approach based on parameter thresholds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual retrieval is used for all cases, then it can handle any situation, but the retrieval process is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to handle any retrieval situationVSAvoidretrieval time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses situation information parameters to determine whether automated aerial retrieval or manual ground retrieval is more appropriate. For straightforward cases with minimal damage and favorable weather, automated retrieval reduces time. For complex situations requiring manual assessment or handling of heavy/damaged vehicles, manual retrieval is selected despite taking longer, optimizing the balance between speed and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If retrieval procedure is determined without situation information, then the process is simple, but the retrieval may be unsafe or inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrieval efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of situation information acquisition and analysis

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary acquisition of situation information (weather, damage level, weight, objects) before determining the retrieval procedure. This preliminary assessment ensures that the most appropriate retrieval method is selected in advance, improving efficiency and safety by avoiding inappropriate retrieval attempts that would waste time or cause further damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11634225B2Information-processing device and information-processing method

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 NTT DOCOMO INC

AI summary

Flight cessation detection unit detects that drone has ceased flying at an unexpected site. Situation information acquisition unit acquires, as situation information indicating a situation related to retrieval of the drone, information on weather in an area in which the drone has flown. Retrieval procedure determination unit determines a retrieval procedure for the drone based on a situation indicated by the acquired situation information. Retrieval procedure determination unit, upon detecting a time period having specific weather based on the acquired information on weather, determines a retrieval procedure in which the time period is designated as a retrieval time.