Drone-Vehicle Flight Coordination for Synchronized Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The coordination of vehicles and drones is challenging due to their dynamic nature, making it difficult to synchronize their movements effectively.

Innovation Solution

A drone coordination device and method that acquires an action plan from an automated vehicle, determines a flight plan for the drone, and synchronizes the drone's approach with the vehicle's speed, allowing for efficient mounting and delivery operations by adjusting the vehicle's speed and route optimization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the drone approaches the automated vehicle at high speed to reduce coordination time, then the productivity is improved, but the safety and reliability deteriorate due to difficulty in synchronized mounting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoordination timeVSAvoidmounting synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the drone's approach speed based on real-time conditions. The drone can fly at higher speeds when distance is sufficient, then automatically decelerate when approaching the mounting position, optimizing both time efficiency and mounting reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The coordination system continuously monitors the relative position and speed between the drone and automated vehicle, using this feedback to adjust the drone's approach timing and speed to achieve optimal synchronization for mounting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the drone waits for the automated vehicle to reduce speed to enable mounting, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to increased coordination time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting easeVSAvoidcoordination time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drone performs preliminary positioning and speed adjustment in advance of the actual mounting operation, approaching at optimal speed and then automatically decelerating to the required mounting speed, making the mounting process easy while minimizing time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the drone's flight parameters (speed, altitude, approach angle) dynamically during the coordination process, transitioning from high-speed approach to low-speed precise positioning to achieve both efficiency and ease of mounting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the drone flies a longer distance to find optimal mounting points, then the reliability of coordination is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to increased flight distance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoordination reliabilityVSAvoidflight distance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of optimal mounting positions based on the automated vehicle's route and speed profile before the drone actually approaches, identifying the best mounting points in advance to minimize unnecessary flight distance while ensuring reliable coordination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11341857B2Drone coordination device, vehicle management device, drone coordination method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A drone coordination device includes an acquisitor which acquires an action plan from an automated vehicle and a determinator which determines a flight plan of a drone including a section in which the drone will be mounted on the automated vehicle on the basis of the action plan acquired by the acquisitor.