Incentivized Drone Fleets for Micro-Climate Data Collection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current weather data collection methods are limited by sparse data points, leading to inaccurate weather forecasting and high costs due to the need for costly and spatially limited field experiments requiring specialized staff, which are difficult to implement for transient atmospheric phenomena.

Innovation Solution

A system that incentivizes drone flights to specific geolocations using gamified network participation, where drones equipped with weather sensors collect data, which is then transmitted to a server and used to update a scorecard with corresponding incentives, improving micro-climate data collection and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional field experiments are used for weather data collection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to specialized staff and equipment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweather data accuracyVSAvoidspecialized staff and equipment requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs drones as temporary, easily deployable measurement platforms instead of permanent specialized weather stations. These drones can be rapidly deployed and retired as needed, eliminating the need for complex infrastructure and specialized operational staff while maintaining measurement capabilities through onboard sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automated weather data collection where drones autonomously navigate to designated hotspots, collect measurements, and transmit data without requiring specialized field staff. The gamified incentive system further automates recruitment by motivating users to operate drones based on virtual rewards, replacing human coordination complexity with automated incentive distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If more weather data points are collected, then productivity is improved, but loss of time increases due to the difficulty of implementing field experiments for transient phenomena

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweather data collection volumeVSAvoidtime to implement field experiments

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-identifies and marks optimal measurement hotspots in advance using historical weather data and predictive modeling. These hotspots are prepared and made available in the gamified interface before transient weather events occur, allowing drones to immediately collect data when conditions arise without requiring time-consuming field experiment setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts hotspot locations and incentives based on real-time weather conditions and drone availability. As transient atmospheric phenomena develop, the system updates hotspot positions and adjusts incentive structures to rapidly mobilize drones to new locations, enabling continuous data collection across changing conditions without fixed experimental protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If spatial coverage is expanded, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance increases due to high costs of extensive field experiments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicro-climate data accuracyVSAvoidcost of field experiments

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal platform where a single drone can serve multiple measurement functions across different locations and weather conditions. The gamified incentive system universally applies virtual rewards regardless of specific hotspot location, allowing the same resource (drone fleet) to be efficiently allocated across diverse spatial requirements without needing specialized equipment for each location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the incentive parameter from monetary compensation to virtual gamified rewards, dramatically reducing the cost of expanding spatial coverage. By adjusting incentive magnitude and type based on hotspot priority and drone availability, the system can economically scale from localized to region-wide monitoring without proportional increases in operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11480710B2Weather data collection through incentivized and collaborative drone flights

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 THE WEATHER CO LLC

AI summary

A computer receives a hotspot and a corresponding incentive, where the hotspot is a geolocation for collecting the weather data. The computer presents the received hotspot and the corresponding incentive to a user. The computer receives the weather data from the drone, transmits the weather data to a server, and updates a scorecard with the incentive corresponding to the hotspot based on determining that the drone reached the hotspot.