Encoded Flight Plan Access for UAM Passenger Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) systems face challenges in efficiently transporting passenger data and flight information due to the added weight of data transport mechanisms, which hampers the efficiency and weight metrics of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS/UAV).
Innovation Solution
A method and system for generating and encoding flight plans using visual encoding schemes, allowing passengers to access UAM systems and UAS, with encoded data providing necessary configurations for flight operations and communications, while also enabling ground transport plans, ensuring secure and efficient data transfer and access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data transport mechanisms are added to UAS for information exchange, then passenger authentication and flight operations are enabled, but vehicle weight increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the UAS system and relocates it to the passenger's portable device. The encoded flight plan data is stored and managed on the passenger's smartphone or similar device, eliminating the need for heavy onboard data storage and processing mechanisms in the UAS.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding scheme (visual codes, QR codes, barcodes) that bridges the gap between ground control facilities and UAS. This intermediary allows compact data transmission without requiring direct electronic data links or heavy onboard processing equipment.
2Ease of operation
If encoded flight plan data is provided to passengers via portable devices, then access control and configuration transfer are enabled, but data security and reliability challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the flight plan data in encoded visual form that can be displayed on the passenger's portable device. This visual copy serves as a reliable, tamper-resistant representation of the flight instructions that can be verified by ground control facilities without transmitting sensitive raw data over networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual encoding schemes that use color, patterns, and visual elements to represent flight data. These visual codes provide inherent error detection and verification capabilities, enhancing data reliability while maintaining ease of access and scanning.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for transporting passengers via uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) receives passenger requests for transport between origin and destination points. Based on the request a transport plan is generated for each passenger, identifying the passenger, assigning a UAS and including a flight plan (which includes flight instructions and a communications plan for the UAS control system). Based on the transport plan one or more encoded flight plan datasets are generated. Each encoded dataset is downloadable to and displayable by the passenger's portable computing device, and scannable and decodable by reader devices at the origin and destination ports and aboard the UAS. Scanning an encoded dataset both grants the passenger access to the origin port and UAS and confirms the passenger's presence. Further, each assigned UAS downloads from the decoded flight plan data the necessary configuration data to fulfill its portion/s of the flight plan.