UAV Directional Antenna Selection for Range and Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face limitations in range and operating time due to high power consumption by antennas, and regulatory restrictions on antenna power and gain, which affect their communication efficiency and compliance.
Innovation Solution
A UAV system dynamically selects directional antennas based on position, orientation, and line of sight to optimize antenna gain, reduce power consumption, and maintain compliance with regulatory limits by iteratively choosing the best subset of antennas for communication, ensuring efficient power distribution and extended operational range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If antenna power and gain are increased to extend UAV range, then communication range is improved, but power consumption increases and regulatory limits are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna selection that adapts to changing UAV position, orientation, and receiver location. The flight control system continuously monitors these parameters and selects the optimal antenna subset in real-time, transforming the static antenna configuration into a dynamic system that maintains communication efficiency without excessive power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by selecting different antenna subsets based on calculated line of sight and geometric relationships. By varying which antennas are active according to position and orientation parameters, the system optimizes communication range while controlling power consumption and maintaining regulatory compliance
2Reliability
If multiple antennas are used to improve communication reliability, then transmission stability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly activating all antennas, the system applies local quality by selectively enabling only those antennas that have line of sight to the receiver. This localized activation ensures communication reliability through sufficient antenna diversity while minimizing power consumption by keeping inactive antennas dormant
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by activating only the necessary subset of antennas required for reliable communication rather than all available antennas. The flight control system calculates the minimum sufficient antenna configuration based on geometric line of sight, avoiding unnecessary power consumption from excessive antenna activation
3Productivity
If antenna gain is maximized to improve signal strength, then transmission efficiency is improved, but regulatory compliance is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains regulatory compliance by dynamically adjusting which antennas are active based on position and orientation parameters. This parameter-based selection ensures that antenna gain remains within regulatory limits while maintaining sufficient transmission efficiency for reliable communication
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and systems and methods for dynamically selecting directional antennas onboard the UAV for wireless transmissions. For example, an embodiment pertains to a UAV that comprises a flight control system in remote communication with a remote receiver via directional antennas onboard the UAV. The flight control system is operatively coupled with a propulsion system to control the flight of the UAV. While in-flight, the flight control system is configured to determine an orientation and position of the UAV. It is further configured to select a subset of directional antennas to transmit from based on the determined orientation and position, among other factors. The flight control system then directs a transmitter to send wireless communications using the selected directional antennas.