Laser-Equipped UAV Swarms for Real-Time 3D Airspace Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for generating illustrations in airspace, such as fireworks, flight shows, and light fountains, are limited in their ability to create dynamic, interactive, and reusable images of significant size due to risks, environmental impact, cost, and limitations in three-dimensionality and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing unmanned aircraft equipped with laser means and communication units to manipulate and combine laser beams, allowing for real-time control and creation of complex, high-intensity images in the airspace, enabling dynamic and interactive large-scale illustrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional methods (fireworks, flight shows, banners, water fountains) are used to create illustrations in airspace, then basic visual display is achieved, but visibility, three-dimensionality, complexity, and dynamic interaction are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidpresentation options
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the illustration creation task among multiple unmanned aircraft, where each aircraft carries and manipulates individual laser beams. This segmentation allows complex three-dimensional images to be constructed from multiple discrete light sources, significantly improving both visibility and presentation versatility compared to traditional single-source methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical illustration methods (physical banners, water fountains, smoke generators) with optical laser beams. This substitution enables dynamic, controllable, and reusable light-based illustrations in airspace without the physical limitations and environmental impacts of mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If fireworks are used for airspace illustrations, then visual display is achieved, but position control and environmental impact are problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of implementationVSAvoidposition control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces explosive fireworks with controlled laser beams emitted from unmanned aircraft. This substitution provides precise position control through GPS-guided aircraft navigation and programmable flight paths, eliminating the uncontrollable explosion characteristics of fireworks while maintaining visual display capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Duration of action of moving object

If flight shows with colored smoke are used, then dynamic visual display is achieved, but cost and repeatability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic display capabilityVSAvoidrepeatability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses programmable laser parameters (intensity, color wavelength, beam direction, pulse duration) controlled by flight management systems. These parameters can be dynamically adjusted and precisely repeated, enabling cost-effective and highly repeatable dynamic illustrations compared to expensive, non-repeatable flight shows with physical smoke materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If LED bulbs in diffusion screens are used in unmanned aircraft, then point representations are achieved, but three-dimensionality and image complexity are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidthree-dimensionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from point-source LED illumination to directional laser beams that can be oriented in three-dimensional space. By controlling beam direction, focus, and intersection points across multiple aircraft, the system creates true three-dimensional light structures and complex spatial illustrations that exceed the capabilities of planar LED displays.

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 system provides improved visibility and expanded presentation options for airspace illustrations, enabling the creation of complex, dynamic, and interactive images that are reusable and repeatable, with enhanced visibility and control capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

the aircraft has at least one laser means for dispensing and / or for manipulating at least one laser beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP3481720B1Unmanned aircraft and system for generating an image in the airspace
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 ARS ELECTRONICA LINZ GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3481720B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3481720B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3481720B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an unmanned aircraft (1, 10, 20) having a drive unit (2) for permitting the flight of the aircraft (1, 10, 20) in the airspace and a data processing unit (3) designed for controlling a position or a chronological sequence of positions of the aircraft (1, 10, 20) in the airspace substantially in real time based on position information, wherein the aircraft (1, 10, 20) has at least one laser means for emitting and/or manipulating at least one laser beam (7), and the aircraft (1, 10, 20) has a communications unit (5), wherein the data processing unit (3) is designed for receiving and/or transmitting the position information by means of the communications unit (5) substantially in real time.