Headless UAV Direction Control Using Remote Compass Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drones in headless mode struggle with controlling the fly direction accurately when the user cannot visually determine the drone's nose azimuth, leading to incorrect joystick operation directions and difficulty in guiding the drone back to the user.

Innovation Solution

An unmanned aerial vehicle control method that utilizes an electronic compass in the remote controller to determine the drone's and remote controller's orientations, computes the difference between these orientations and the joystick's operation angle to set the fly angle information, and transmits this information to the drone for accurate direction control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the conventional drone uses headless mode without detecting nose azimuth, then the drone can be controlled using fly direction and joystick operation direction, but the drone receives wrong joystick operation direction when remote controller and user change position or steering direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidaccuracy of fly direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the drone detect and transmit its nose azimuth back to the remote controller. The remote controller then uses this feedback information along with electronic compass data to calculate corrected joystick operation directions, ensuring accurate control even when the user's position or orientation changes relative to the drone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process in the remote controller that mediates between the raw joystick input and the actual drone control commands. The remote controller acts as an intermediary that receives joystick operations, combines them with electronic compass orientation data and received nose azimuth information, and outputs corrected control signals that account for the user's changing position and orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the drone is far away from the user and remote controller, then the drone can reach any position in three-dimensional space, but the user cannot visually decide the nose azimuth of the drone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight rangeVSAvoiddifficulty of determining nose azimuth

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/visual method of determining nose azimuth (requiring the user to visually see and judge the drone's orientation) with an electronic sensing and computational system. The drone's orientation sensors and the remote controller's electronic compass substitute for human visual judgment, automatically calculating and transmitting orientation data even when the drone is out of visual range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Extent of automation

If the conventional drone acquires fly direction and joystick operation direction for analysis, then the control system can process direction data, but the computed fly direction is different from the joystick operation direction when user position or steering direction changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of direction controlVSAvoidreliability of direction control

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used for direction control by incorporating the drone's actual nose azimuth detection and the remote controller's electronic compass orientation into the control calculation. Instead of relying solely on the raw joystick operation direction, the system adjusts the control parameters based on the detected orientations of both the drone and remote controller, ensuring that the computed fly direction consistently matches the user's intended direction regardless of position changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy and intuitive drone control in headless mode by aligning the drone's movement with the user's intended direction, simplifying operation and enhancing market competitiveness.

Implementation Method 1

acquiring a second orientation datum relevant to a remote controller and provided by an electronic compass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS20250238032A1Unmanned aerial vehicle control method based on headless mode and remote controller and related aircraft assembly

Publication Date: 2025.07.24 QISDA CORP

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control method is based on a headless mode and applied to a remote controller and a related aircraft assembly. The UAV control method includes receiving a first orientation datum generated by a drone, acquiring a second orientation datum relevant to the remote controller and provided by an electronic compass, acquiring an operation angle datum generated by a joystick of the remote controller, and computing a difference between the first orientation datum and a sum of the second orientation datum and the operation angle datum for setting as fly angle information of the drone.