Multirotor Flight Control Redundancy for Sensor Failure Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multirotor aircraft control systems are prone to malfunctions due to failures in sensor technology, particularly in sensor units, which can lead to unreliable vertical take-off and landing operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing redundancy in multirotor aircraft control units and evaluation units, with a comparator system that compares control data and provides a control command based on precise agreement or tolerance range, ensuring continued operation even with sensor unit failures, and utilizing a ranking order for comparator and control units to prioritize data accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor units and control systems are used for vertical take-off and landing control, then flight control capability is enabled, but the system becomes prone to malfunctions and failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements redundant control units and evaluation units before any malfunction occurs. Multiple control units (at least three) and evaluation units (at least two) are configured in parallel, so that if one unit fails, others can immediately take over. This beforehand cushioning ensures continuous reliable operation without interruption, directly addressing the reliability problem caused by sensor malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of control units and evaluation units with identical functionality. Each control unit has redundant counterparts that can assume its function upon failure. The evaluation units similarly operate in parallel, comparing results to ensure accuracy. This copying strategy eliminates single points of failure and maintains system reliability despite sensor or control unit malfunctions.
2Reliability
If redundant control units and evaluation units are implemented, then system reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into distinct functional segments: sensor units, multiple control units, evaluation units, and actuator control units. Each segment operates semi-independently with clearly defined interfaces. This segmentation allows redundancy to be implemented modularly, making the complex system more manageable and easier to diagnose, thereby reducing the practical impact of complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation units continuously monitor and compare the outputs of multiple control units in real-time. This feedback mechanism automatically detects discrepancies or failures and triggers switching to backup units without requiring complex manual intervention. The feedback loop simplifies the management of redundancy by providing automatic fault detection and correction, reducing the operational complexity despite the increased structural complexity.
3Measurement precision
If control data from multiple units is compared with strict precision requirements, then control accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tolerance parameter (Agreement Tolerance) that defines the acceptable range of deviation between control data from different units. Instead of requiring exact matching, the system accepts data within this predefined tolerance, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining sufficient control accuracy. This parameter change balances precision requirements with real-time processing demands in vertical take-off and landing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a vertical take-off and landing multirotor aircraft and a multirotor aircraft using the controller.