Radio Beacon System for UAV Navigation Using Adaptive Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UAV navigation systems require high spatial resolution and the ability to define regions rather than single points, but they are complex, expensive, and consume high power, making them unsuitable for widespread UAV applications.
Innovation Solution
A radio beacon system using adaptive beamforming with antenna arrays and a processing unit to identify and manage 3D, 2D, and 1D zones, allowing precise UAV positioning and flight control with low energy consumption and low power radio frequency transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prior art positioning systems use antenna arrays and complex signal processing techniques to achieve high spatial resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex, expensive antenna arrays with simple radio beacons that transmit low-power signals. Instead of using sophisticated receiving equipment on UAVs, the system employs inexpensive radio beacons ground-based transmitters that send out identification signals. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to achieve precise positioning through signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical/electromechanical antenna tracking systems with a radio-based signal processing system. Rather than physically tracking UAVs with mechanical antenna arrays, the system uses radio frequency transmissions and digital signal processing to determine UAV position, eliminating complex mechanical components and reducing system complexity.
2Reliability
If prior art systems use high power radio frequency transmissions to achieve reliable UAV localization, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radio beacons transmit identification signals periodically rather than continuously at high power. The system uses low-power periodic transmissions that are sufficient for reliable detection and localization. This periodic low-power transmission approach maintains localization reliability while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous high-power transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple radio beacons transmitting identical or similar identification signals across different geographic locations. By creating redundant signal copies from multiple beacons, the system achieves reliable UAV localization through signal triangulation and identification, allowing the use of low power transmissions while maintaining reliability through redundancy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If prior art solutions implement complex processing techniques to define regions instead of single points, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal radio beacon system that can define multiple types of zones (no-fly zones, restricted zones, authorized zones) using the same basic hardware and processing architecture. The system processes radio signal data to identify various zone types and dimensions (3D volumes, 2D surfaces, 1D lines, or points) without requiring different equipment for each zone type, achieving adaptability through software-based multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends positioning capability from single-point location to multi-dimensional zone definition by processing radio signal data in multiple spatial dimensions. The system can identify no-fly zones as 3D volumes, 2D surface areas, 1D linear boundaries, or 0D points, achieving versatile region definition by adding dimensional complexity to the basic positioning function without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
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
The system achieves high precision UAV navigation at a lower cost than prior art solutions, reducing the need for specialized personnel and minimizing risks during inspections and deliveries, while being adaptable to various UAV services.
Implementation Method 1
low power radio frequency transmissions
Data Source
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AI summary
A radio beacon system configured to assist autonomous flight of one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), wherein the radio beacon system comprises: - a drone device (200), configured to be installed on an UAV and including a radio transceiver, and - a radio beacon device (100), configured to be installed on ground and including N antenna arrays (110, 120) with N ≥ 2, one or more radio transceivers configured to communicate with the radio transceiver of the drone device (200), and at least one processing unit (130), wherein each antenna array (110, 120) has M antenna elements (115, 125) with M ≥ 2 associated to respective beamforming electronic weights w(n, m), with n ranging from 1 to N and m ranging from 1 to M, wherein said at least one processing unit (130) is configured to perform an adaptive beamforming method for assisting autonomous flight of the UAV.