Power Supply Scheduling for eVTOL Landing Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for charging battery-driven unmanned aircraft are inadequate in handling situation changes due to environmental or weather conditions, and cannot efficiently determine power supply information for multiple aircraft at different landing places.
Innovation Solution
A power supply information determination apparatus and system that acquires aircraft and place information to determine the appropriate power supply facility, start time, and waiting period for each aircraft, and communicates this information to ensure efficient charging and scheduling of power supply facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a battery-driven aircraft is used with limited battery capacity, then the aircraft can achieve autonomous flight, but the aircraft requires frequent landing for recharging which reduces flight duration and operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of power supply facilities, start times, and waiting periods before the aircraft actually needs charging. By acquiring aircraft information and place information in advance, and determining the optimal charging schedule beforehand, the system enables seamless operations without interrupting flight duration, thus resolving the contradiction between flight duration and operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts charging schedules based on changing situational conditions such as environmental changes, weather conditions, and suspicious aircraft detections. The determination unit continuously updates power supply information based on current situations, allowing the aircraft to maintain optimal flight duration while adapting to changing conditions that affect operational efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple aircraft operate at different landing places with situation changes, then the system can handle diverse operational scenarios, but determining appropriate power supply information for each aircraft becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power supply determination process by handling each aircraft independently with its own acquisition unit, determination unit, and communication unit. By processing aircraft information and place information for each aircraft separately, the system can handle diverse operational scenarios at multiple landing places without creating overwhelming complexity, as each segment operates autonomously following the same determination logic
3Reliability
If the system determines power supply information for each aircraft based on situational changes, then appropriate charging can be provided, but the time required for determination and communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of power supply facilities, start times, and waiting periods before the aircraft actually needs charging. By acquiring aircraft information and place information in advance, and determining the optimal charging schedule beforehand, the system minimizes the time required at the actual charging moment while ensuring appropriate charging decisions are made based on situational changes
Solution Approach 2:
The communication unit transmits determined power supply information to the aircraft, creating a feedback loop. The system continuously monitors situational changes and adjusts power supply information accordingly, ensuring reliable and appropriate charging decisions while optimizing the timing of communications to minimize time loss
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply information determination apparatus acquires, for each of one or a plurality of landing places each including equipment on which a battery-driven vertical take-off and landing aircraft capable of autonomously flying can land, aircraft information about the aircraft flying in a surrounding region of a landing place, and place information about the landing place. The place information includes facility information indicating a power supply facility and an attached power supply facility capable of supplying power in a landing state and a non-landing state, respectively. Both facilities are provided at the landing place. The apparatus determines a facility of at least one of a power supply facility and an attached power supply facility of each aircraft, a power supply start time to the facility, and a waiting period, based on the acquired information about each aircraft and each landing place, and transmits determined information to the corresponding aircraft.