UAS Altitude Reporting Using Crowdsourced Vertical Datum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current altitude reporting systems for UAS are inaccurate, leading to potential collisions and inefficient airspace use due to reliance on GPS altitude or pressure-based systems that do not provide absolute altitude, resulting in large vertical clearances and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines hyperlocal weather, satellite data, and sensory data from multiple UAS to establish a dynamic geospatial vertical datum, using crowdsourced data to reduce altitude uncertainty and enable consistent altitude reporting between vehicles of different manufacturers, with a remote computing device solving a global system of equations to determine true altitudes and broadcast resolved models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS altitude or pressure-based altitude systems are used, then altitude reporting is provided, but altitude accuracy is poor and vertical clearance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines GPS altitude data with pressure-based altitude data from multiple UAS to create a fused altitude model. This merging of multiple altitude measurement systems allows the calculation of more accurate true altitude values while reducing the uncertainty that previously required large vertical clearances, thereby improving both measurement precision and airspace utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring altitude data from multiple sources, comparing computed altitudes with expected values, and adjusting the fused altitude model accordingly. This feedback mechanism reduces altitude uncertainty over time and enables more precise altitude reporting, allowing for reduced vertical clearances and improved airspace efficiency
2Reliability
If pressure-based altitude systems are used, then altitude data is obtained, but absolute altitude cannot be determined and vehicle collisions risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground-based reference system or a lead UAS as an intermediary to provide absolute altitude reference points. By comparing pressure-based altitude measurements against these reference points, the system can determine true absolute altitude for all vehicles in the formation, eliminating the information loss and enabling safe collision avoidance
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal altitude reference framework that can be used by all UAS regardless of manufacturer or sensor type. This multi-functional approach allows different vehicles to share a common absolute altitude reference, enabling reliable safety monitoring and collision avoidance across diverse UAS fleets
3Reliability
If large vertical clearances are maintained between vehicles, then collision risk is reduced, but airspace utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the vertical clearance parameter based on real-time altitude accuracy and uncertainty levels. When altitude measurements are highly accurate and uncertainty is low, the system reduces vertical clearance requirements, allowing tighter formation flying and improved airspace utilization while maintaining collision avoidance safety
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments for providing altitude reporting. Some embodiments may include receiving a query from a first vehicle regarding altitude data of the first vehicle, providing the altitude data to the first vehicle, and receiving, by the computing device, a computed altitude from the first vehicle. Some embodiments include calculating an altitude uncertainty parameter for the first vehicle, determining a true altitude from the altitude data and the altitude uncertainty parameter, and determining whether the true altitude is within a predetermined threshold of a second altitude of a second vehicle. Some embodiments may be configured for, in response to determining that the true altitude is within the predetermined threshold, notifying at least one of the following: the first vehicle or the second vehicle.