Master UAV Load Redistribution for Heavy Cargo Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering goods using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges such as increased development and operation costs, noise complaints, and control burden as the size and number of UAVs increase, particularly when attempting to transport heavy goods, leading to issues with route saturation and communication overload.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where a group of UAVs collaborate to transport goods, with a master aircraft identifying and adjusting the load distribution among the UAVs based on actual and target loads, using battery level information to optimize flight arrangements and reduce communication load on the control device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the size of the unmanned aerial vehicle is increased to deliver larger and heavier goods, then the cargo capacity is improved, but the development cost, operation cost, noise, and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single large cargo transport task into multiple smaller sub-tasks performed by several small UAVs. Instead of using one large aircraft, multiple small UAVs work together as a collaborative group, each carrying a portion of the cargo or providing thrust support, thereby achieving heavy cargo transport without requiring individually large and expensive aircraft
2Quantity of substance
If the number of small unmanned aerial vehicles is increased to transport heavy goods, then the cargo capacity is improved, but the route saturation and control burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of multiple small UAVs into a unified collaborative control system. The control device manages the group of UAVs as a single coordinated entity rather than individually controlling each aircraft, reducing the overall control burden while maintaining the ability to transport heavy cargo through the combined effort of multiple vehicles
3Quantity of substance
If the number of small unmanned aerial vehicles is increased to transport heavy goods, then the cargo capacity is improved, but the communication load and hardware requirements of the control device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication and control architecture into hierarchical levels. Rather than requiring the central control device to communicate with and process data from every individual UAV simultaneously, the system divides communication tasks, allowing small UAVs to operate with reduced individual communication loads while maintaining group coordination for heavy cargo transport
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for delivering goods through an unmanned aerial vehicle group including a plurality of aircraft respectively connected to delivery target goods. The method comprises identifying, by a master aircraft of the unmanned aerial vehicle group, an actual load applied to each of the aircraft by the goods while the unmanned aerial vehicle group is flying to deliver the goods, and controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle group by the master aircraft to adjust the actual load applied to each of the aircraft.