Trajectory-Based Sense-and-Avoid for UAS Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) face challenges in sensing and avoiding collisions with other airborne craft, particularly in non-cooperative airspace where TCAS and ADS-B systems are not available, requiring a system to maintain separation and implement avoidance measures.
Innovation Solution
A trajectory-based sense-and-avoid system that utilizes information from multiple sources, including ground controllers, air traffic control, on-board sensors, and transponder data, to generate four-dimensional trajectories for aircraft, enabling them to maintain separation and avoid collisions by controlling their flight paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional TCAS and ADS-B systems are used for collision avoidance, then cooperative aircraft can maintain separation, but non-cooperative aircraft without these systems cannot be detected or avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an on-board sensor suite as an intermediary detection system that operates independently of TCAS and ADS-B. This sensor suite includes radar, ladar, infrared, and video systems that can detect both cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft, serving as a mediator between the UAS and any type of airborne craft regardless of their equipment status.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAS equips itself with comprehensive on-board sensing capabilities rather than relying solely on external cooperative systems. The aircraft performs its own detection and separation functions through integrated sensors and autonomous decision-making algorithms, making it self-sufficient in both cooperative and non-cooperative environments.
2Productivity
If a pilot is removed from the UAS platform, then maneuver performance, size, payload and endurance are improved, but safety and reliability for collision avoidance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the human pilot's mechanical sensing and decision-making with an integrated electronic system combining on-board sensors, trajectory prediction algorithms, and autonomous control. This electronic system processes sensor data, predicts trajectories of other aircraft, and executes avoidance maneuvers without human intervention, maintaining safety while enabling autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the airspace environment through on-board sensors, compares actual trajectories with predicted trajectories, and adjusts flight paths in real-time based on feedback from the sensor suite and trajectory analysis. This closed-loop feedback system ensures safe operation without a human pilot.
3Measurement precision
If multiple information sources are integrated for trajectory generation, then collision avoidance accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple information sources including air traffic control data, ground controller inputs, transponder information, and on-board sensor data into a unified trajectory prediction system. By combining these diverse data streams through integrated processing algorithms, the system achieves high prediction accuracy while managing complexity through centralized coordination rather than separate independent systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A trajectory-based sense-and-avoid system (168) for use on an aircraft (100) is provided that utilizes 4-D constructs (166, 192), such as 4-D trajectories or 4-D polytopes, to maintain separation from other aircraft (118) and/or to avoid collisions with other aircraft (118). In certain embodiments the trajectory-based sense-and-avoid system (168) utilizes 4-D trajectories provided from an external source and/or 4-D trajectories estimated based on a variety of data sources during operation.