Millimeter-Wave UAV Positioning for GNSS-Denied Flight Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in navigating urban environments and indoor spaces without Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) coverage, particularly due to limited satellite visibility and vulnerability to jamming or spoofing, and existing solutions like optical flow navigation increase complexity and cost without ensuring adherence to predefined airways.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system using two time-synchronized periodic wideband signals transmitted from spaced apart base stations with facing beams to create a flight path for UAVs, allowing them to determine their position based on reception time and intensity differences, which is independent of GNSS and resistant to multipath interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical flow navigation is used for UAV navigation without GNSS, then navigation capability in urban environments is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical flow navigation systems with a simplified radio-based positioning system. Instead of using camera sensors and complex data processing algorithms, the invention uses a receiver to detect radio signals from base stations, determining position through time and intensity differences of signal reception. This substitution of the navigation mechanism reduces device complexity while maintaining navigation capability in urban environments without GNSS coverage.
2Measurement precision
If GNSS satellite positioning is used for UAV navigation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but vulnerability to jamming and spoofing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground-based base stations as intermediary elements between the UAV and the positioning system. Instead of relying directly on satellite signals that are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing, the system uses local base stations that transmit radio signals. The UAV determines its position by measuring time and intensity differences of signals from multiple base stations, creating a localized positioning system that is immune to GNSS attacks while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Reliability
If millimeter-wave beam infrastructure is used for UAV positioning, then positioning reliability in urban canyons is improved, but infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the base stations multi-functional by integrating both communication and positioning functions into a single infrastructure. The base stations transmit radio signals that serve dual purposes: enabling communication with UAVs and providing positioning information through time and intensity measurements. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated positioning infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining positioning reliability in urban canyons where GNSS coverage is limited.
4Adaptability or versatility
If camera sensors and data processing algorithms are installed in UAV for optical flow navigation, then navigation without GPS is enabled, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive camera sensors and complex data processing algorithms with a simpler, cheaper radio signal receiver. The positioning system uses basic radio frequency reception and measurement capabilities that are already present in many UAVs, eliminating the need for costly optical flow navigation hardware. This substitution significantly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to navigate without GPS in urban environments.
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
This solution enables reliable, cost-effective, and safe navigation of UAVs in areas with limited or no GNSS coverage, reducing complexity and vulnerability to signal attacks, while allowing precise position estimation and adherence to designated airways, facilitating efficient indoor and urban operations.
Implementation Method 1
determine a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle relative to the two base stations based on a difference between reception times of the two periodic wideband signals
Implementation Method 2
based on reception intensities of the two periodic wideband signals
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a receiver and a position determiner. The receiver is configured to receive two periodic wideband signals transmitted from two spaced apart base stations of a navigation system for unmanned aerial vehicles, wherein the two periodic wideband signals are time-synchronized. The position determiner is configured to determine a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle relative to the two base stations based on a difference between reception times of the two periodic wideband signals and based on reception intensities of the two periodic wideband signals.