UAS Contingency Routing With Dynamic Emergency Zone Airspace Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) face challenges in navigating emergencies, such as malfunctions or weather issues, where pilots may not be able to determine the best course of action to maintain safe operation, especially when communication links are down, and existing contingency plans are not shared with other airspace users.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine a contingency route to a pre-identified emergency response zone, reserve necessary airspace, and dynamically update and recycle airspace usage as the flight progresses, allowing for collaborative contingency planning and execution even when communication is unavailable, while also compensating landowners for emergency response zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated contingency routing and airspace reservation is implemented for UAS emergencies, then emergency response safety and efficiency are improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-identifies multiple potential emergency response zones along the planned route before the UAS departs. These zones are pre-categorized by type (landing zones, hover zones, return-to-launch zones) and pre-reserved in the airspace management system, so that when an emergency occurs, the UAS can immediately execute a contingency route to the most appropriate pre-identified zone without complex real-time decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The contingency routing system dynamically selects from multiple pre-identified emergency response zones based on real-time factors such as UAS current position, battery status, wind conditions, and zone availability. The system continuously updates the optimal contingency route as the UAS progresses along its mission, allowing adaptive response to changing conditions without requiring complex real-time zone identification.
2Reliability
If multiple emergency response zones are pre-identified and airspace is reserved for contingency routes, then emergency response capability is improved, but airspace utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
As the UAS progresses along its planned route and passes beyond pre-identified emergency response zones, the system automatically releases the airspace reservations for those zones. This allows other UAS or aircraft to utilize the previously reserved airspace, thereby recovering the airspace resource and improving overall utilization efficiency while maintaining emergency response capability for zones that are still ahead of the UAS.
Solution Approach 2:
The system reserves airspace for contingency routes to multiple potential emergency response zones simultaneously, which appears excessive, but in reality only one zone will be needed. This partial reservation strategy ensures that adequate emergency options are available without permanently dedicating airspace that could be used by other users when not needed for emergencies.
3Ease of operation
If contingency routes to emergency response zones are established, then pilot decision-making in emergencies is improved, but communication requirements and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The contingency routing system is designed to operate with minimal pilot intervention. When an emergency is detected or declared, the system automatically selects the most appropriate pre-identified emergency response zone based on current UAS status and environmental conditions, then autonomously computes and initiates the contingency route. The pilot simply needs to acknowledge the system's recommendation, greatly simplifying decision-making during critical emergency situations.
Solution Approach 2:
All emergency response zones and their associated contingency routes are pre-planned and pre-coordinated with airspace users and ground stations before the UAS mission begins. This preliminary coordination establishes communication protocols and authorization frameworks in advance, reducing the communication overhead and coordination complexity during actual emergency situations when time is critical.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments for providing contingency automation to emergency response. One embodiment of a method includes determining a route for a vehicle to a primary destination, and determining a first upcoming area along the route that has been previously identified as an emergency response zone, where the emergency response zone may be used as a secondary destination in a contingency route for the vehicle in an emergency. In some embodiments, the method may include reserving airspace for the contingency route, determining that the emergency response zone is no longer useful, based on an updated position of the vehicle, and canceling the contingency route from reservation.