Landing Flight Control Using Multi-Sensor Zone Clearance Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban air mobility (UAM) presents challenges in ensuring safe and efficient vehicle landing due to space restrictions, traffic, and noise limitations, requiring effective communication and confirmation of safe landing zones.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for computing flight controls using sensor data fusion, incorporating a multi-sensor and navigation suite that includes radar, camera, AHRS, and GPS systems to confirm landing zone clearance and adjust descent paths to avoid unsafe conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensor systems are integrated to confirm landing zone clearance, then safety and reliability of landing operations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar, LIDAR, camera, and AHRS sensor systems into a unified landing zone verification platform. Multiple sensors detect and validate the same landing zone to determine if it is clear and safe for vehicle landing, thereby improving reliability through cross-validation while managing complexity through integrated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where sensor data from multiple sources continuously monitors landing zone conditions and provides real-time verification. The processing system receives data from various sensors, validates landing zone clearance status, and adjusts flight controls based on the aggregated information, ensuring safe landing operations through continuous feedback.
2Reliability
If real-time sensor data processing is performed to detect unsafe conditions, then landing safety is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of landing zones before vehicles commit to descent. By pre-processing sensor data and verifying landing zone clearance status in advance, the system reduces the computational burden during critical landing phases and enables faster real-time decision-making when vehicles are already in descent.
Solution Approach 2:
The landing verification process is divided into discrete stages: initial landing zone identification, clearance validation, continuous monitoring during descent, and final landing confirmation. Each stage processes specific sensor data relevant to that phase, reducing overall processing time by avoiding redundant computations and focusing computational resources on current critical parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for landing a vehicle. For instance, the method may include: before a descent transition point, receiving from a service a landing zone confirmation including landing zone location information and an indication that a landing zone is clear; determining a landing flight path based on the landing zone location information; and upon the vehicle starting a descent to the landing zone using the landing flight path: receiving landing zone data from at least one of a radar system, a camera system, an altitude and heading reference system (AHRS), and a GPS system; performing an analysis based on the landing zone data to determine whether an unsafe condition exists; and based on the analysis, computing flight controls for the vehicle to continue the descent or modify the descent.