Dynamic Drone Destination Selection for Extended Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
The utility of drones for collecting location-related data is limited by their energy supply, requiring them to halt data collection prematurely to conserve energy for return, restricting their range and data collection efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that dynamically determine the drone's destination based on its current location, allowing it to travel closer to its current position and extend data collection time, using a processor to select from candidate destinations like recharging or disposal sites within its remaining range, and potentially utilizing a vehicle to transport the drone part of the way to conserve energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the drone carries additional batteries or fuel to extend range, then the drone's energy supply is improved, but the drone becomes heavier and more expensive, consuming more energy and reducing operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vehicle as an intermediary carrier that transports the drone part of the way to the destination. The vehicle acts as a mediator between the drone's launch site and final destination, allowing the drone to conserve energy by being transported rather than flying the entire distance. This resolves the contradiction by extending range without adding weight to the drone itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The journey is segmented into multiple phases: initial drone flight to a release point, vehicle transport to an intermediate location, and final drone flight to destination. This segmentation allows the drone to avoid carrying excess energy supplies for the entire journey, reducing weight while still achieving extended range through the combined drone-vehicle-drone approach.
2Reliability
If the drone returns to the launch site after data collection, then the drone ensures sufficient energy for return, but the drone must halt data collection prematurely, restricting range and data collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle serves as an intermediary that assumes the return transport function, allowing the drone to focus on data collection without the constraint of returning to the original launch site. The drone can be retrieved by the vehicle at a different location, ensuring reliable return while maximizing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the drone's operational parameters including destination selection, flight path, and data collection duration based on real-time energy status and vehicle availability. This dynamic approach allows the drone to optimize between reliability (ensuring return) and productivity (maximizing data collection) rather than following a fixed return-to-launch protocol.
3Reliability
If the drone follows a predetermined route, then the drone ensures sufficient energy for return, but the drone lacks freedom in data collection routing, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines the drone's destination and route based on real-time conditions including energy status, vehicle location, and data collection priorities. This dynamic routing replaces predetermined fixed routes, allowing the drone to adapt its path while maintaining energy management through coordinated vehicle support for the return journey.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the drone's energy consumption, location, and mission progress, using this feedback to dynamically adjust the destination selection and route planning. This feedback loop enables the drone to maintain reliable energy management while adapting its flight path to maximize data collection efficiency, with the vehicle providing the safety net for return transport.
Data Source
AI summary
The destination for a drone is dynamically deteremined. In the context of a method, location-related data may be collected with a drone. After having collected at least some of the location-related data, a destination for the drone is determined based at least in part upon a location of the drone. The drone is then caused to travel from the location to the destination. In some instances, the drone may travel toward the destination by being carried by a vehicle that is traveling along a route toward the destination.