UAV Delivery Battery Scheduling Across Multi-Port Charging Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used for article delivery face inefficiencies in battery usage, particularly in areas with insufficient power supply, where charged power is wasted and power costs increase due to battery deterioration from full charge or over-discharge states, necessitating a mechanism to optimize charging and discharging.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and method that acquire delivery schedule and battery information for multiple UAVs deployed across take-off/landing facilities with charge/discharge units, determining actions such as charging, discharging, or operation based on schedule and battery conditions to efficiently utilize batteries and prevent deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the unmanned aerial vehicle is fully charged and kept in standby for a long time, then the battery capacity is sufficient for next operation, but the battery deteriorates due to full charge state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the charging state changeable and adaptive rather than static. The charging control unit dynamically adjusts the charging status based on predicted operation timing, transforming the battery from a fixed full-charge state to a variable charge level that optimizes both standby duration and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the charging parameter (charge level) based on predicted operation conditions. By adjusting the degree of charging according to when the next operation is expected, the system optimizes battery performance while maintaining sufficient capacity, directly addressing the contradiction between standby time and battery health.
2Reliability
If the unmanned aerial vehicle is discharged to prevent battery deterioration, then the battery performance is maintained, but the charged power is wasted and power cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by predicting future operation timing in advance and proactively setting the appropriate charging status before the next operation. This prevents unnecessary discharge cycles that would waste energy, as the system prepares the battery in advance with the optimal charge level based on forecasted usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from predicted operation information to continuously adjust charging status. The charging control unit receives feedback about when operations are expected and modifies charging behavior accordingly, eliminating wasteful discharge-charge cycles while maintaining battery performance.
3Productivity
If multiple unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with charge/discharge units at multiple take-off/landing facilities, then battery usage efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing charge/discharge units that can perform multiple functions: charging UAVs, storing power for later use, and serving as power sources for other UAVs. Each facility becomes a multi-functional node that contributes to the overall network efficiency without requiring separate specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the charging infrastructure across multiple facilities into an integrated network. The charge/discharge units at different facilities work together as a unified system, sharing power resources and coordinating operations to improve overall battery usage efficiency while managing complexity through centralized control.
Data Source
AI summary
The center server 3 determines, for each take-off/landing port 2, any one of charging of the UAV 1, discharging of the UAV 1, operation of the UAV 1 for article delivery, and standby of the UAV 1 as a action to be implemented in the take-off/landing port 2 on the basis of delivery schedule information related to a schedule for article delivery and battery information of the UAV 1 deployed in each of the plurality of take-off/landing ports 2.