Airborne Wireless Sensor System for UAV Altitude Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of real-time altitude monitoring systems for small recreational Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that can continuously transmit altitude data to remote pilots, as existing solutions either provide delayed data or require post-flight analysis, and often use uncorrected mean sea level altitude data, making it difficult for pilots to comply with altitude regulations and maintain safe situational awareness.
Innovation Solution
A stand-alone airborne wireless sensor system (AWSS) that removably attaches to UAVs, using wireless communication protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee to transmit altitude and flight data in real-time to portable smart devices, allowing for continuous monitoring of altitude above ground level (AGL) by correcting mean sea level altitude data with local pressure adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stand-alone wireless sensor system is added to small UAVs, then real-time altitude monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a sensor module that measures altitude and a communication module that transmits data wirelessly. This segmentation allows the monitoring function to be added without requiring integration into the UAV's core flight control system, thereby improving reliability while minimizing impact on overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless sensor system is designed as a universal platform that can be attached to various small UAV configurations. By using standard communication protocols and power requirements, the system can serve multiple monitoring functions (altitude, position, environmental data) across different UAV types without requiring custom integration for each platform
2Loss of information
If continuous real-time data transmission is implemented, then situational awareness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits altitude data at periodic intervals rather than continuously streaming. This periodic transmission approach maintains adequate situational awareness for regulatory compliance while significantly reducing the average power consumption compared to continuous real-time transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous monitoring capability while using intermittent transmission. The sensor continuously tracks altitude changes, and the communication module transmits data whenever meaningful changes occur or at scheduled intervals, ensuring continuous useful information is provided to the remote pilot without sustained high energy consumption
3Ease of manufacture
If uncorrected mean sea level altitude data is used, then measurement simplicity is improved, but compliance with altitude regulations becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically transforms the raw mean sea level altitude parameter into the relevant above-ground level parameter by subtracting the stored ground elevation value. This parameter transformation maintains the simplicity of using standard altitude sensors while providing the precise above-ground level measurement required for FAA regulatory compliance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables remote pilots to maintain safe altitude awareness in real-time, ensuring compliance with regulations and enhancing situational awareness during flights by providing continuous, accurate altitude data without the need for post-flight analysis.
Implementation Method 1
an airborne barometric pressure sensor for measuring the atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 2
converting the MSL altitude to an above ground level (AGL) altitude by correcting for the local barometric pressure
Implementation Method 3
using wireless communication protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee to transmit altitude and flight data
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless systems and methods are disclosed for establishing a continuous real-time data link communicating flight data of a small UAV to a first smart device over a wireless network. An airborne wireless sensor system is adapted to be removably attached to the UAV. The airborne wireless sensor system has a sensor module for sensing UAV flight data, a communication module for establishing the wireless data-link network and transmitting the sensed UAV flight data the smart device. The smart device may have a software application which permits the user to define data formats for display which may them be communicated to the airborne sensor system to use in building the data pages transmitted to the smart device. Smart devices such as smart phones, smart watches, tablet computers and the like are contemplated to be used.