Multi-UAV Coordination Using Composite Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coordinating the movement of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and detecting obstacles in their surroundings is challenging, especially when they need to maintain relative positions and perform coordinated actions while avoiding obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize sensors and computing devices to track targets, generate composite datasets from multiple perspectives, and alter moving paths to avoid obstacles, allowing UAVs to perform coordinated actions and maintain positions relative to targets while navigating around obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple UAVs are coordinated to perform actions together, then the operational effectiveness is improved, but the difficulty of controlling relative positions and maintaining coordination increases
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized controller acts as an intermediary between multiple UAVs, receiving commands and distributing coordinated action instructions to each UAV. This mediator manages the complex coordination logic centrally, reducing the control burden on individual UAVs and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining precise relative positioning and synchronization.
2Measurement precision
If UAVs maintain fixed relative positions to track targets, then tracking precision is improved, but the ability to adapt to obstacles and changing environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The formation configuration of multiple UAVs is made dynamic rather than fixed. While UAVs maintain relative positions for precise target tracking, the entire formation can dynamically adjust its structure and individual UAV positions in response to obstacles and environmental changes. This allows the system to preserve tracking precision during normal operation while adapting to new conditions when necessary.
3Reliability
If UAVs use sensors to detect obstacles in real-time, then operational safety is improved, but the system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors on different UAVs are merged into a shared detection system. Instead of each UAV independently processing sensor data, the system combines sensor inputs from multiple platforms to create a comprehensive obstacle detection picture. This shared approach improves operational safety through more complete environmental awareness while reducing individual sensor requirements and overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for obstacle detection may include an exemplary method of obstacle detection by a computing device. The method includes receiving a first dataset indicating a first surrounding with a first perspective; receiving a second dataset indicating a second surrounding with a second perspective; and generating a composite dataset from the first and second datasets. The method additionally includes identifying an obstacle using the composite dataset.