Tether Line Marker Guidance for Covert UAV Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UAV recovery systems require expensive and weight-adding differential GPS systems and signal transmissions, which can reveal the UAV's presence, limiting their use in covert operations and necessitating complex guidance systems.
Innovation Solution
A UAV recovery system using a tether line with detectable markers at different positions, allowing the aircraft to calculate its position relative to the tether line and guide itself for contact without external guidance signals, enabling covert operations and reducing system complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If differential GPS systems and signal transmissions are used for UAV recovery guidance, then guidance accuracy is improved, but system cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic GPS guidance systems with a simple optical marker system. The UAV uses visual detection of markers positioned along the recovery path to determine its location and navigate to the recovery point, substituting mechanical/optical methods for electronic navigation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive, simple markers as temporary guidance indicators along the recovery path. These markers are basic visual elements that provide guidance information without requiring complex, expensive, or heavy electronic systems.
2Measurement precision
If differential GPS systems and signal transmissions are used for UAV recovery guidance, then guidance accuracy is improved, but UAV presence is revealed limiting covert operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic signal transmissions with passive optical markers. The markers reflect or emit visible light that the UAV's camera can detect, eliminating the need for radio frequency communications that would reveal the UAV's presence to adversaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV uses its own onboard camera and image processing capabilities to detect and track the markers, providing self-guidance without external signal transmissions. The system is self-contained, using the UAV's existing sensors for both navigation and covert operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex guidance systems are used for UAV recovery, then recovery accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes expensive electronic guidance infrastructure with simple, inexpensive optical markers that can be manufactured and deployed at minimal cost. The markers are detected by the UAV's existing camera system, eliminating the need for costly specialized guidance equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual copies (images) of the markers captured by the UAV's camera to determine position and guide recovery. Instead of requiring expensive specialized sensors or systems, the solution uses standard imaging capabilities to create a visual representation of the guidance markers for processing.
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
Enables accurate and covert UAV recovery without external guidance signals, reducing system complexity and cost, and allowing recovery on various platforms, including moving vessels.
Implementation Method 1
markers to be detected by the aircraft
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2C
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus (100) to guide an unmanned aerial vehicle for recovery thereof are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus (100) to recover an aircraft (120) or a payload (125) thereof includes a tether line (108), and markers (110, 402, 404, 410, 412, 420, 430, 440) supported by the tether line (108) at different positions of the tether line (108), the markers (110, 402, 404, 410, 412, 420, 430, 440) to be detected by the aircraft (120), the aircraft (120) to be guided to engage the tether line (108) by determining positions of the markers (110, 402, 404, 410, 412, 420, 430, 440) and calculating a position of at least a portion of the tether line (108) based on the determined position of the markers (110, 402, 404, 410, 412, 420, 430, 440).