Drone Swarm Laser Links With Adaptive Signal Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms face limitations in extended task performance due to finite battery power, leading to inefficient energy use and potential security risks from excessive signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a drone network system where drones communicate using a laser communication system to determine and modulate signal power to the minimum necessary for processing, allowing excess power to be collected and stored, thereby conserving energy and balancing power consumption across the swarm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drones transmit signals at high power to ensure reliable communication across the swarm, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases and service time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic signal power adjustment where each drone continuously monitors received signal quality and adapts its transmission power in real-time. The processor determines minimum signal power requirements based on current communication conditions, allowing the system to maintain reliability while minimizing energy consumption. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making power transmission flexible rather than fixed at high levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where receiving drones evaluate signal quality and provide information back to transmitting drones about minimum power requirements. This feedback loop enables the network to optimize power levels continuously, ensuring communication reliability is maintained only at the necessary minimum power level rather than consistently high power, thereby extending service time.
2Productivity
If drones use maximum battery power for continuous operation, then productivity is improved, but energy depletion accelerates and service time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the power parameter from fixed maximum to variable minimum-necessary levels. Each drone's processor calculates the minimum signal power required for reliable communication based on distance, interference, and signal quality metrics. By operating at this optimized minimum power level rather than maximum, the system maintains task performance capability while significantly reducing the energy depletion rate, thus extending service time.
3Measurement precision
If drones transmit signals at excessive power levels, then signal quality is improved, but energy waste increases and service time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of avoiding excessive action by transmitting signals at partial power levels - specifically, the minimum power necessary to achieve acceptable signal quality rather than maximum or excessive power. Each drone adjusts its transmission to provide just enough power for reliable communication, eliminating the waste associated with excessive power transmission while maintaining sufficient signal quality for task performance.
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
This approach enhances operational capabilities and security by reducing energy depletion, extending service time, and maintaining secure data transmission within the swarm.
Implementation Method 1
an energy collection subsystem configured to collect and store the excess signal power
Data Source
AI summary
A drone network including a first drone including a first receiver, a first transmitter, and a first processor, and a second drone positionable at a distance from the first drone. The second drone includes a second receiver, a second transmitter, and a second processor. The first transmitter is configured to emit a signal towards the second drone for reception at the second receiver, and the second processor is configured to determine a minimum signal power for the signal to be processed at the second drone. The second transmitter is configured to emit a return signal towards the first drone for reception at the first receiver. The return signal contains minimum signal power data as determined by the second processor, and the first processor is configured to modulate the power of signals to be emitted towards the second drone from the first transmitter based on the minimum signal power data.