HAPS Flight Path Planning Using Stratospheric Weather Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the capability to consistently monitor and predict meteorological phenomena from the ground to the stratosphere, which is crucial for safe operation of high altitude platform stations (HAPS) to avoid adverse weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that uses in-house modeling and meteorological data from HAPS to predict stratospheric weather, determining flight paths for HAPS vehicles to navigate through areas with favorable weather conditions, thereby ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If HAPS operates in high altitude stratosphere to provide wireless communication service, then communication coverage and service capability are improved, but exposure to adverse meteorological conditions increases operational risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary meteorological prediction for the stratosphere before HAPS flight operations. By predicting weather conditions in advance and determining safe flight paths, the system enables HAPS to operate reliably while maintaining high communication service capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional meteorological monitoring is used for ground level only, then existing infrastructure can be maintained, but stratospheric weather conditions cannot be predicted
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends meteorological monitoring from the traditional ground level (two-dimensional surface) to the vertical dimension including the stratosphere. By establishing observation points at different altitudes and using vertical profiling techniques, the system captures three-dimensional meteorological data, enabling comprehensive stratospheric weather prediction while building upon existing ground-based infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus is provided, including: a prediction result obtainment unit which obtains a result of prediction of weather in stratosphere; and a flight path determination unit which determines a flight path of a flight vehicle based on the result of prediction of weather in stratosphere such that the flight vehicle flies through an area in stratosphere that has been predicted to satisfy a predetermined stratospheric path condition, wherein the flight vehicle functions as a stratospheric platform, and forms a wireless communication area by emitting a beam and provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the wireless communication area.