Drone Return-Home Control for Moving Ship Charging Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drones deployed from ships at sea face challenges in accurately returning to the charging station due to the movement of the ship, which can result in the drone falling into the sea.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a drone control device on the ship to communicate with the drone, using GPS signals to determine takeoff feasibility and provide return home information, along with a control unit in the drone to control its drive motor based on ship and drone positions, ensuring accurate return to the charging station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the charging station is disposed on a moving ship, then the drone can be recharged at sea, but the drone may fall into the sea due to ship movement during return
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously receives position information from the GPS receiver, compares the drone's current position with the charging station's position on the moving ship, and adjusts the drone's flight path in real-time to compensate for ship movement, ensuring accurate return to the moving charging station
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces GPS position information as an intermediary element that mediates between the moving ship and the drone. The control unit uses GPS coordinates to calculate the relative position between the drone and the charging station, enabling precise navigation to the moving target without direct visual or mechanical connection
2Ease of operation
If the drone uses return home mode, then the drone returns to initial takeoff position, but the moving ship causes the drone to miss the charging station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static return-to-fixed-point mode into a dynamic return-to-moving-point mode. The control unit continuously updates the target position based on the ship's real-time location, allowing the drone to track and return to the moving charging station rather than a fixed coordinate, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving position accuracy
3Reliability
If GPS signal strength is weak, then takeoff feasibility is reduced, but operation at sea is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by checking GPS signal strength before allowing takeoff. The control unit evaluates the GPS signal quality in advance and only permits takeoff when the signal strength meets minimum requirements, ensuring that the drone has sufficient positioning capability for safe operation and return, thus maintaining both safety and sea operation capability
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
The system enables the drone to accurately return to the charging station on a moving ship by using GPS signal strength and position information to control the drone's movements, thereby preventing accidents such as the drone falling into the sea.
Implementation Method 1
a first GPS receiver built therein to receive GPS signals from GPS satellites
Implementation Method 2
a control unit installed in the drone to control a drone drive motor by generating a drone drive motor control signal based on the ship position information and the drone position information
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a system and method for supporting a return home mode of a drone used on a ship. A drone control device receives GPS reception signal strength information at a first GPS receiver, drone takeoff feasibility information is displayed on a display unit of the drone control device if the GPS reception signal strength is greater than or equal to a set strength, a drone drive motor is controlled by generating a drone drive motor control signal based on ship position information received from the drone control device and drone position information received from a second GPS receiver when a control unit installed in the drone receives return home information from the drone control device after the drone takes off, and the control unit stops the drone drive motor when the difference between the drone position and the ship position is less than or equal to a set distance.