UAV-Based Animal Data Collection System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems that can efficiently collect and organize sensor data from individuals or groups during activities that require monitoring, particularly in scenarios where accessibility and centralized data management are challenging, such as sporting events or wellness monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based data collection and distribution system that includes sensors capable of electronically transmitting data, with UAVs receiving and processing data from sources, and a computing system for metadata attachment and distribution to third-party platforms or home stations using various communication protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If centralized service providers collect and organize sensor data, then data organization and monetization are improved, but accessibility and monitoring during activities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized data collection system into distributed segments: wearables on individuals, drones for data transmission, and cloud servers for processing. This segmentation enables data collection during activities without requiring a single centralized collection point, improving accessibility while maintaining organization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces drones as intermediary devices between wearables and centralized servers. The drones receive data from wearables in the field and transmit it to cloud infrastructure, acting as a mobile intermediary that bridges the gap between distributed data sources and centralized processing, thereby improving accessibility during activities.
2Measurement precision
If miniaturized biosensors are used, then monitoring capabilities are improved, but data transmission and centralized management become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the drone platform universal by equipping it with both data collection capabilities (receiving from wearables) and data transmission capabilities (sending to cloud). This multi-functional drone serves as a universal intermediary that handles multiple tasks in the data pipeline, simplifying the overall system despite the distributed nature of miniaturized sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the aerial dimension to the data transmission system. Instead of ground-based infrastructure, drones operate in the air space above activity locations, providing a new dimensional pathway for data transmission that overcomes limitations of ground-based centralized collection during mobile activities.
3Productivity
If real-time data collection during activities is implemented, then monitoring effectiveness is improved, but data accessibility and organization become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback loops where the system monitors data collection status, transmission progress, and cloud processing state. This feedback mechanism ensures that real-time data collection maintains organizational integrity by continuously tracking and managing the data flow from wearables through drones to the cloud, preventing information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing the drone-cloud communication infrastructure before activities begin. Data transmission protocols and cloud storage structures are pre-configured, enabling seamless real-time data collection during activities without compromising organization, as the receiving infrastructure is already in place and ready to process incoming data streams.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle-based data collection and distribution system includes a source of animal data that can be transmitted electronically. The source of animal data includes at least one sensor. The animal data is collected from at least one target individual. The system also includes an unmanned aerial vehicle that receives the animal data from the source of animal data as a first set of received animal data and a home station that receives the first set of received animal data. Characteristically, the unmanned aerial vehicle includes a transceiver operable to receive signals from the source of animal data and to send control signals to the source of animal data.