Laser Scanner Collision Avoidance for Lightweight Aircraft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft collision warning systems, particularly for small and unmanned aircraft, are hindered by increased weight and energy requirements, necessitating a lightweight and space-saving solution for environmental measurement and collision avoidance.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a laser scanner that emits laser beams at different angles with a mirror deflecting a sub-area of these beams into a plane parallel to the flight direction, allowing for simultaneous environmental measurement and collision detection, using the same components for both purposes, and adaptive collision avoidance through propagation time analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate collision warning system is equipped on the aircraft, then flight safety is improved, but weight and energy consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight safetyVSAvoidaircraft weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The laser scanner originally designed for environmental measurement is made to serve dual purposes: creating 3D environmental models and detecting collision risks. By processing laser beam reflections from different angular ranges separately, the same hardware component performs both surveying and safety functions, eliminating the need for dedicated collision warning system hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The collision detection functionality is merged into the existing laser scanner system. The evaluation unit distinguishes between laser beams reflected from the environment (for mapping) and laser beams reflected from potential collision objects (for safety), combining both functions within a single integrated system rather than using separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate collision warning system is equipped on the aircraft, then flight safety is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight safetyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the laser scanner uses all laser beams for environmental mapping, then measurement completeness is improved, but collision detection capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental mapping completenessVSAvoidcollision detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The angular range of laser beams is segmented into different zones: beams within a first angular range are processed for environmental mapping, while beams within a second angular range (overlapping with the first) are processed for collision detection. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of both mapping completeness and collision detection by directing different beam subsets to different processing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system distinguishes between environmental objects and potential collision objects not just by position but by angular range and reflection characteristics. By evaluating laser beam reflections from different angular perspectives separately, the system creates distinct data streams that can be processed independently, enabling both functions to operate simultaneously without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The solution provides increased safety during flight operations without significant weight increase, enabling highly mobile and lightweight unmanned survey aircraft by utilizing the laser scanner's components for both environment modeling and collision warning, with adaptive collision avoidance measures.

Implementation Method 1

Flying device with laser scanner for measuring an environment by means of laser beams emitted by the scanner and their reflections off the surroundings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Implementation Method 2

determine the travel times of both laser beams emitted within the said sub-range and laser beams emitted outside the said sub-range based on their reflections from the environment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 3

a mirror is arranged in the beam path of the laser beams of a predetermined sub-range of emission angles, wherein the laser scanner is configured to determine the travel times of both laser beams emitted within the said sub-range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3220160B9Flying device with laser scanner

Publication Date: 2020.03.04 RIEGL LASER MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

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Figure 2
Figure 3a~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an aircraft with a laser scanner for measuring an environment, wherein the laser scanner (2) is configured to emit laser beams (18) with different emission angles (α) around an axis (S), characterized in that a mirror (30) is arranged in the beam path of the laser beams (18) of a predetermined sub-range (Δα) of emission angles (α), and wherein the laser scanner (1) is configured to determine the transit times (L) of both laser beams (18) emitted within the said sub-range (Δα) and laser beams (18) emitted outside the said sub-range (Δα) based on their reflections on the environment.