Factory UAV Flight Path Planning Around Moving Industrial Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aircrafts inside factories often interfere with industrial machines, posing a challenge for safe operation and efficient performance of tasks such as inspection and installation.

Innovation Solution

A flight path specification device that generates non-interference space information based on industrial machine structure and operating state data, combined with operation commands, to determine a safe flight path for the unmanned aircraft, preventing collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If unmanned aircrafts are utilized to increase operational efficiency in factories, then productivity is improved, but interference with industrial machines occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidinterference with industrial machines

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by generating non-interference space information before the unmanned aircraft executes flight operations. The flight path specification device calculates safe zones and restricted areas based on industrial machine operating patterns, then uses this pre-computed spatial information to guide the aircraft's flight path, preventing interference before it can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flight path specification device acts as an intermediary between the unmanned aircraft control system and the industrial machine control system. It receives operating state information from industrial machines and operation commands from aircraft controllers, then generates flight path information that mediates between these two systems to ensure safe coexistence and prevent interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the flight path is restricted to prevent interference, then safety is improved, but operational flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperational flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic flight path specification where the non-interference space information is generated based on the real-time operating state of industrial machines. As machine operations change, the safe flight zones are dynamically recalculated and updated, allowing the unmanned aircraft to flexibly adapt its flight path while maintaining safety constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flight path specification device changes spatial parameters by generating three-dimensional non-interference space information that defines variable flight zones. These parameter changes allow the system to optimize flight paths within safe boundaries, adjusting altitude, horizontal position, and approach angles to maintain both safety and operational effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240019874A1Flight path specification device and computer readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2024.01.18 FANUC LTD

AI summary

A flight path specification device includes: a space information generation unit configured to, based on model data on a structure of an industrial machine and an operating state of the industrial machine, generate non-interference space information indicating a non-interference space in which the industrial machine and an unmanned aircraft do not interfere with each other; a command accepting unit configured to accept an operation command for the unmanned aircraft; and a path information generation unit configured to, based on the non-interference space information and the operation command, generate flight path information that specifies a flight path for the unmanned aircraft.