Pointer Matrix Emergency Flight Plan for Unmanned Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems for unmanned vehicles are complex and mission-dependent, requiring significant computational resources and communication, making them inefficient for emergency situations where simplicity and autonomy are crucial.
Innovation Solution
A method using a pointer matrix to pre-plan emergency routes, dividing geographical areas into cells with unique IDs and pointers to termination points, allowing the vehicle to autonomously navigate to safe areas without requiring extensive computational power or communication, even in the presence of obstacles like no-fly zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional contingency planning methods are used, then the vehicle can handle emergency situations, but the system complexity and computational resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The geographical area is divided into a grid of cells, each with a unique identifier. This segmentation allows the emergency navigation system to break down the complex problem of finding a safe path into simpler cell-to-cell transitions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The pointer matrix is pre-computed offline before the mission, storing predetermined navigation instructions for each cell. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time pathfinding computations during emergencies, reducing both system complexity and computational resource requirements while ensuring reliable emergency response
2Extent of automation
If comprehensive contingency planning is implemented, then the vehicle can autonomously handle various emergencies, but the computational power required during execution increases
Solution Approach 1:
All complex pathfinding computations are performed offline before the mission to create the pointer matrix. During emergency execution, the vehicle simply follows pre-computed pointers, dramatically reducing computational resource usage while maintaining full autonomous capability
Solution Approach 2:
The pointer matrix serves as a simplified copy or representation of the geographical area and safe zones. Instead of performing complex spatial reasoning during emergencies, the system uses this pre-computed data structure to quickly determine navigation actions, reducing computational energy consumption
3Adaptability or versatility
If mission-specific contingency plans are created, then the planning can be tailored to specific requirements, but the complexity and size of the planning data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pointer matrix structure is universal and can be applied to any mission type. The same cell grid and pointer structure handle different mission requirements by simply changing which cells are marked as safe zones, without increasing structural complexity or data size
Solution Approach 2:
Mission-specific requirements are implemented by changing parameters within the existing pointer matrix structure, such as which cells are designated as safe zones or how pointers are configured. This allows customization without increasing the fundamental complexity or size of the planning data
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 1e~1f
AI summary
An emergency flight plan useable for an aircraft provided with a navigation system wherein said flight plan comprises a pointer matrix comprising a number of cells. Each cell of said matrix has a unique identification and each cell corresponds to a geographical area, and wherein each cell of said matrix comprises an identification of a cell corresponding to a next waypoint in an emergency route.