Millimeter-Wave Radar UAV Control in GPS-Denied Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current small-size, low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face limitations in navigation and control, particularly in degraded visual environments and GPS-denied areas, due to limited onboard sensors, which constrain operations like terminal guidance, sense-and-avoid, swarming, and formation control.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of millimeter-wave (MMW) radar technology for terrain-aided navigation, enabling autonomous guidance, landing, and mapping functions in all weather conditions, and allowing for obstacle detection and correlation with high-resolution terrain maps for navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional onboard sensors are used in small UAVs, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the navigation capability and measurement precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/optical sensors with millimeter-wave radar technology. The radar system uses electromagnetic wave transmission and reception to detect terrain and obstacles, substituting traditional sensor-based detection methods. This provides all-weather navigation capability with improved measurement precision while managing device complexity through integrated radar modules.
2Reliability
If millimeter-wave radar is implemented for terrain-aided navigation, then the reliability and measurement precision are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The millimeter-wave radar system performs multiple functions simultaneously: terrain mapping, obstacle detection, velocity measurement, and navigation guidance. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate sensor systems, improving reliability while managing overall device complexity through a unified radar-based platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates across different millimeter-wave frequency bands and adjusts radar parameters (transmission power, pulse repetition frequency, beam steering angles) dynamically based on operational conditions. This parameter adaptability allows the radar to maintain reliable performance across varying environmental conditions while optimizing the balance between detection capability and system complexity.
3Extent of automation
If ground-based control is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the autonomy and productivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV incorporates onboard millimeter-wave radar that enables autonomous terrain following, obstacle avoidance, and navigation without continuous ground control intervention. The system processes radar returns locally to generate navigation commands, allowing the vehicle to service itself autonomously in GPS-denied and adverse weather environments, thereby increasing automation extent while justifying the added sensor capability.
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
MMW radar enhances UAV operations by enabling autonomous flight at low altitudes in cluttered environments, improving range and velocity resolution, and reducing costs, complexity, and uncertainty in navigation, especially in adverse weather and GPS-denied situations.
Implementation Method 1
a radar module configured to: transmit a plurality of signals; receive a plurality of radar returns corresponding to the transmitted signals
Implementation Method 2
The processor of the autonomous controller is further configured to process the radar returns to determine a velocity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for autonomous airborne vehicle control using a millimeter-wave (MMW) radar. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable a MMW radar system to support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in accomplishing missions involving interacting with peers. In an embodiment, a MMW radar module of a UAV in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure enables the UAV to take a measurement (e.g., regarding the location of another UAV) using the MMW radar, classify a return (e.g., a MMW radar return), determine whether the detected object is a peer, and update the vehicle velocity accordingly.