UAV Flight Control for Aircraft Encounter Hover Decisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
UAVs face a risk of collision with other aircraft operating in their vicinity during flight, posing safety hazards and potential damage, and unnecessary landings may occur on unsuitable terrain.
Innovation Solution
The UAV decelerates to zero horizontal speed, descends to a hover position, and determines whether to resume flight or land based on the persistence of the aircraft's presence, using decision logic to maximize separation and minimize unnecessary landings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UAV continues flight at normal speed when an aircraft is detected, then productivity is maintained, but collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV dynamically adjusts its flight state based on the detected aircraft's presence and movement. The system transitions between hover and flight modes, and between different landing states, creating a dynamic response that balances safety and productivity. This is achieved through continuous monitoring of aircraft position and updating the UAV's operational state in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key operational parameters including horizontal speed (reducing to zero), vertical position (descending to hover altitude), and operational mode (switching between flight, hover, and landing states). These parameter changes allow the UAV to increase separation from detected aircraft while maintaining the ability to resume productive flight when safe.
2Reliability
If the UAV lands immediately upon detecting an aircraft, then collision risk is reduced, but unnecessary landings occur on potentially unsuitable terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV performs preliminary actions including decelerating to zero horizontal speed and descending to a hover position before committing to a landing. This intermediate hover state allows the system to assess whether the detected aircraft has moved away, enabling the UAV to resume flight without landing if the threat has passed, thus avoiding unnecessary landings and potential damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential landing by transitioning to a hover state first, which acts as a cushioning intermediate step. This allows the UAV to be in a safe, low-speed state ready to land if needed, but also ready to resume flight if the threat disappears, reducing the harm of unnecessary landing maneuvers.
3Reliability
If the UAV decelerates to zero horizontal speed and hovers, then separation distance from aircraft increases, but flight time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic monitoring of the detected aircraft's position to determine when to resume flight. The UAV hovers and continuously checks whether the aircraft has moved away, allowing it to maintain increased separation only as long as necessary. This periodic assessment minimizes hover duration while ensuring adequate separation from potential collision threats.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving an indication of presence of an aircraft in a vicinity of an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) which is flying along a flight path. The method also includes decelerating, based on the received indication, the UAV to reduce a ground speed along the flight path. The method additionally includes descending, after reducing the ground speed, the UAV to a hover position. The method further includes determining, while the UAV is in the hover position, whether to resume the flight path or to land the UAV based on a determination of continued presence of the aircraft in the vicinity of the UAV. The method also includes controlling the UAV based on the determination of whether to resume the flight path or to land the UAV.