Raster Elevation Range Queries for UAV Flight Segment Validation

The patent segments the flight planning process into two distinct phases: a fast pre-flight validation phase that uses coarse-resolution terrain data to identify obviously unsafe routes, and a detailed planning phase that only processes potentially safe routes with fine-resolution terrain data. This segmentation eliminates the need to process all flight segments at maximum detail, reducing overall computational energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision where it matters most.

The patent applies different data qualities to different situations: coarse-resolution terrain data is used for the majority of flight segments where high precision is not critical, while fine-resolution terrain data is reserved for segments that pass the initial validation or require detailed planning. This local quality approach ensures measurement precision is improved only where necessary, rather than uniformly across all segments, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.

The patent segments the flight planning workflow into a rapid filtering stage using coarse terrain data and a detailed processing stage using fine terrain data. This segmentation enables the system to quickly validate the majority of flight segments at lower resolution, improving overall productivity while maintaining measurement precision for segments that require it.

The patent implements partial action by applying fine-resolution terrain data queries only to flight segments that are candidates for safe flight, rather than processing all segments at maximum detail. This partial application of high-precision processing maintains measurement precision where needed while significantly improving productivity by avoiding unnecessary fine-detail queries for obviously unsafe or clearly safe segments.

The patent segments terrain data into hierarchical resolution levels and processes flight segments at appropriate levels. Coarse-resolution terrain data is used for initial safety validation of all segments, with fine-resolution data queried only for segments that require detailed analysis. This segmentation maintains flight safety validation reliability while dramatically reducing the quantity of terrain data that must be moved and processed.

The patent extracts only the necessary terrain data for each flight segment based on preliminary validation results. Instead of moving and processing all terrain data at fine resolution, the system extracts and processes only the subset of terrain data required for segments that pass initial coarse-resolution screening, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing data movement volume.

The patent segments the validation process into two resolution levels: coarse-resolution terrain data is used for initial filtering of flight segments, and fine-resolution terrain data is applied subsequently for segments that require precise altitude validation. This segmentation reduces overall energy consumption by avoiding fine-detail processing for all segments, while maintaining measurement precision for segments where it is critical for safety.

The patent applies high measurement precision locally to only those flight segments that require it, rather than uniformly across all segments. Coarse-resolution data provides sufficient precision for initial screening, while fine-resolution data is applied locally to segments where measurement precision is critical for determining flight safety, thereby optimizing the balance between energy consumption and measurement precision.