UAV Adapter Protocol Conversion for Third-Party Payload Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) do not support third-party devices, limiting their applications as they cannot carry devices developed by manufacturers other than the original equipment manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A load device control method and adapter apparatus that convert communication protocols between the UAV and third-party devices, enabling the UAV to control and communicate with third-party devices by converting internal communication protocols into external protocols, allowing the UAV to support a wide range of third-party devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the UAV uses a fixed communication protocol for controlling devices, then the system structure is simple and reliable, but the adaptability to third-party devices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary device between the UAV and third-party load devices. The adapter contains a protocol conversion module that translates between the UAV's internal communication protocol and external protocols used by third-party devices, enabling compatibility without modifying the core UAV system.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed with multiple communication interface modules that support various external protocols (UART, USB, CAN, I2C, etc.). This universal design allows a single adapter to work with multiple different third-party devices, enhancing the UAV's versatility while maintaining a simple core architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the UAV integrates multiple communication protocols directly, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication protocol functionality by separating it into two parts: the core UAV system uses a simple internal protocol, while the protocol conversion and multiple protocol support are segmented into the external adapter module. This segmentation maintains UAV simplicity while achieving multi-protocol capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as a mediator that handles all protocol conversion complexity externally. The UAV's flight controller only needs to communicate through its simple internal protocol, while the adapter translates these commands into various external protocols for different load devices, isolating complexity from the core system.
3Ease of operation
If the UAV uses proprietary communication protocols only, then the system reliability is high, but the ease of operation for third-party manufacturers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter acts as a reliable intermediary that maintains the stable internal protocol communication within the UAV while providing standardized external protocol interfaces for third-party devices. This ensures that reliability is preserved in the core system while ease of operation is improved for external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter provides universal support for multiple standard communication protocols (UART, USB, CAN, I2C, SPI), making it easy for third-party manufacturers to integrate their devices. The adapter handles protocol translation automatically, maintaining communication stability while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A load device control method includes an adapter apparatus receiving a control command sent by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for controlling a load device connected to the UAV via the adapter apparatus, converting a first communication protocol between the UAV and the adapter apparatus into a second communication protocol between the adapter apparatus and the load device, and sending the control command to the load device using the second communication protocol.