UAV-AGV Cooperative Positioning for Automated Inventory Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inventory using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) either require human intervention or rely on high-end processors and power-consuming sensors for autonomous operation, limiting their efficiency and automation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a UAV and an automated guided vehicle (AGV) that communicate via wireless circuits, where the UAV receives moving commands and transmits position-unrelated sensing information to the AGV, allowing the AGV to determine the UAV's position and control its movement, enabling automated inventory operations without human intervention and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an unmanned aerial vehicle uses a module for position recognition and calculation to take inventory without a person's control, then automation is improved, but power consumption increases and high-end processors are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated guided vehicle as an intermediary that performs position recognition and calculation functions. The UAV simply follows movement commands from the AGV, while the AGV handles the complex positioning computations using its sensors (laser ranger, ultrasonic sensor, camera) and processor, thereby reducing the UAV's power consumption and hardware requirements while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the position recognition and calculation module from the UAV system and relocates it to the automated guided vehicle. This separation allows the UAV to operate with minimal onboard processing power, reducing its weight and energy consumption, while the AGV handles the computationally intensive positioning tasks.
2Extent of automation
If an unmanned aerial vehicle uses a module for position recognition and calculation to take inventory without a person's control, then automation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated guided vehicle serves as an intermediary that handles all position recognition and calculation functions. The UAV only needs basic flight control and communication modules, while the AGV contains the complex sensor suite (laser ranger, ultrasonic sensor, camera) and processing power required for autonomous navigation and inventory management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two functional units: a simple UAV for inventory data collection and a complex AGV for navigation and position management. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the overall system complexity at the UAV end while maintaining high automation capabilities.
3Device complexity
If an unmanned aerial vehicle is controlled by a person to take inventory, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The automated guided vehicle enables the UAV system to serve itself by autonomously determining its position and generating movement commands without human intervention. The AGV's onboard sensors and processor allow the system to self-navigate and self-manage inventory operations, eliminating the need for human pilots while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and method for operating the same, and an automated guided vehicle (AGV) for controlling movements of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention may comprise: a wireless communication circuit; at least one sensor; a processor operatively connected to the wireless communication circuit and the at least one sensor; and a memory operatively connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: receive a movement command for a movement with respect to the current location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, from an automated guided vehicle located within a predetermined distance from the unmanned aerial vehicle, by using the wireless communication circuit; acquire location-independent sensing information by using the at least one sensor, while the unmanned aerial vehicle moves according to the movement command; and transmit the location-independent sensing information to the automated guided vehicle so as to allow the automated guided vehicle to determine the location of the unmanned aerial vehicle by using the location-independent sensing information.