Leading Drone Path Planning for Forward Sensor Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drone technologies lack the capability to efficiently navigate and provide enhanced sensor data to base stations, especially in scenarios where the base station's line of sight is limited, and there is a need for expanded capabilities beyond traditional drone operations.
Innovation Solution
A leading drone system that anticipates and moves ahead of a base station, collecting and processing sensor data from various angles and perspectives, combining it with stored data to provide comprehensive information, and interacting with multiple sensor drones to augment its sensory capabilities, allowing it to adjust its path and perform tasks autonomously based on triggers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traditional drone follows or remains with the base station, then it can maintain communication and coordination, but it cannot provide sensor data from areas ahead of the base station's line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The leading drone performs preliminary actions by moving ahead of the base station to collect sensor data from areas that will soon be in the base station's path. This anticipatory positioning allows the base station to receive pre-collected sensor information about upcoming terrain, obstacles, or points of interest, effectively expanding its situational awareness beyond its immediate line of sight.
2Loss of information
If the leading drone moves ahead of the base station to collect sensor data, then it provides enhanced situational awareness, but it increases the difficulty of maintaining coordination and communication
Solution Approach 1:
The leading drone implements continuous feedback mechanisms by transmitting collected sensor data back to the base station in real-time or near real-time. This feedback loop allows the base station to maintain situational awareness of areas ahead, while the leading drone receives navigation guidance and coordination instructions from the base station, ensuring synchronized operation despite the spatial separation.
3Loss of information
If the drone remains stationary or follows the base station, then it simplifies navigation and communication, but it cannot provide sensor data from multiple angles and perspectives
Solution Approach 1:
The leading drone transitions from traditional two-dimensional ground-based or trailing aerial perspectives to a three-dimensional leading position that encompasses forward, lateral, and elevated viewpoints. This dimensional change enables the collection of sensor data from multiple angles and perspectives simultaneously, providing the base station with comprehensive spatial information that enhances situational awareness and decision-making capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for least one leading drone configured to move to a leading drone future location based on a future location of a base station. A set of base station future locations may form a base station path for the base station to traverse. Also, a set of leading drone future locations may form a leading drone path for the leading drone to traverse. The base station's future location may be anticipated from a prediction or a predetermination. The leading drone, navigating along the leading drone path, may collect sensor data and/or perform tasks. Accordingly, the leading drone may move ahead of the base station in motion, as opposed to following or remaining with the base station.