Aerial Landing Site Identification Using Terrain and Obstacle Criteria
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots of aerial vehicles often face challenges in identifying suitable landing sites, especially in unfamiliar areas, due to the need for precise criteria such as terrain flatness and wind conditions, and existing technologies lack effective methods for real-time or advance identification of safe landing sites.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that receives input data including criteria, terrain information, and obstacle information to identify, score, and rank potential landing sites for aerial vehicles, providing this information to pilots in real-time or as part of a flight plan, using a computing device that integrates with aerial vehicle systems and external data sources for real-time imaging and weather data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pilot operates in unfamiliar areas, then the aerial vehicle can reach more destinations, but the ability to identify suitable landing sites deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computing device as an intermediary that processes terrain data, obstacle information, and weather data to identify and present suitable landing sites to the pilot. This mediator compensates for the pilot's lack of local knowledge by providing processed information about potential landing locations that meet predetermined criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and evaluation of landing sites before the pilot needs to land. By pre-processing terrain and obstacle data to identify suitable locations in advance, the system prepares landing site information that the pilot can use when needed, rather than requiring the pilot to have pre-existing knowledge of the area.
2Reliability
If multiple criteria are used to identify landing sites, then landing safety improves, but the complexity of identification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device automatically performs the complex task of evaluating multiple criteria (terrain flatness, obstacle clearance, wind conditions) without requiring manual analysis by the pilot. The system self-services by autonomously processing data against predetermined criteria and presenting only the results that meet all requirements, thereby maintaining high safety standards while reducing operational complexity for the user.
3Measurement precision
If real-time data processing is implemented, then landing site identification accuracy improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes data in real-time only to the extent necessary to identify landing sites that meet predetermined criteria. Rather than continuously analyzing all possible parameters at maximum depth, the system performs partial processing focused on the critical criteria for landing site suitability, achieving sufficient accuracy while managing energy consumption constraints of the aerial vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a computing device, input data for identifying one or more landing site candidates for an aerial vehicle. The input data includes a set of criteria, terrain information, and obstacle information. The method further includes identifying, by the computing device, the one or more landing site candidates based on the input data and the criteria; providing, by the computing device, information regarding the identified one or more landing site candidates.