Visual Flight Plan Encoding for UAM Passenger Access and UAS Setup
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations face challenges in efficient information exchange for passenger authentication and flight operations due to data transport mechanisms that add weight to uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), which are desirable to be as light as possible for power consumption and speed considerations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for encoding passenger and flight data using visual encoding schemes, allowing secure access to UAM facilities and configuring UAS for flight plans, including ground transport, via portable devices and reader devices, with semi-autonomous or fully autonomous UAS operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data transport mechanisms are used for information exchange, then passenger authentication and flight operations can be performed, but additional weight is added to the UAS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual encoding schemes (barcodes, QR codes, data matrices) to create lightweight digital copies of flight plan data that can be scanned and transmitted optically. This replaces heavy physical data storage and processing mechanisms with lightweight visual representations that contain all necessary authentication and flight operation information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/electronic data transmission systems with optical scanning and decoding systems. Reader devices on the UAS scan visual codes displayed on portable devices, eliminating the need for complex radio communication hardware and reducing the weight of data transport mechanisms while maintaining reliable information exchange.
2Weight of moving object
If visual encoding schemes are used for data transmission, then data can be transmitted with minimal weight, but the encoding and decoding process adds system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal visual encoding schemes (barcodes, QR codes, data matrices) that can be generated, displayed, scanned, and decoded using common portable devices and reader devices. This multi-functional approach allows the same visual code format to serve authentication, flight plan transmission, and ground crew instruction purposes, reducing the need for specialized complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual encoding system is self-contained and self-transmitting. The flight plan data is encoded into visual codes that automatically contain all necessary information for authentication and flight operations. The system serves itself by using the passenger's own portable device to display the code and the UAS's reader device to scan and process it, eliminating the need for additional complex intermediary systems.
3Reliability
If encoded flight plan data is provided to passengers, then access control and authentication can be performed, but time is required for encoding and validation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs flight plan encoding into visual codes in advance, before the UAS departure. The encoded data is provided to passengers' portable devices beforehand, allowing authentication and validation to occur quickly at the point of boarding by simply scanning the pre-encoded visual code, thus minimizing wait time while maintaining secure access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual encoding scheme allows rapid transmission of comprehensive flight plan data in a single scanned image. Instead of sequentially verifying multiple data elements, the entire flight plan, authentication information, and ground crew instructions are encoded together and transmitted instantly through a single scan, rushing through the authentication process efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for transporting passengers via uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) receives passenger requests for transport between origin and destination points. Based on the request a transport plan is generated for each passenger, identifying the passenger, assigning a UAS and including a flight plan (which includes flight instructions and a communications plan for the UAS control system). Based on the transport plan one or more encoded flight plan datasets are generated. Each encoded dataset is downloadable to and displayable by the passenger's portable computing device, and scannable and decodable by reader devices at the origin and destination ports and aboard the UAS. Scanning an encoded dataset both grants the passenger access to the origin port and UAS and confirms the passenger's presence. Further, each assigned UAS downloads from the decoded flight plan data the necessary configuration data to fulfill its portion/s of the flight plan.