UAV Collision Avoidance Using Ground Radar and Escort Drones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sense and avoid technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are limited by geographic constraints of ground-based systems and weight, power, and payload restrictions of airborne systems, making it challenging to prevent midair collisions, especially in compliance with 14 CFR § 91.113.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a mobile ground-based platform with radar and escort drones to extend the geographic airspace for UAVs, distributing computing tasks among ground-based and airborne components, allowing for wireless communication and reducing the weight and power requirements on the UAV, thereby enabling safe and flexible transit corridors without geographic limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If ground-based sense and avoid systems are used, then geographic coverage is limited, but airborne systems add weight and power requirements to the UAV
Solution Approach 1:
The sense and avoid system is segmented into multiple components: ground-based radar stations provide coverage for certain areas, while airborne escort UAVs provide coverage for other areas. This segmentation allows the system to achieve extensive geographic coverage without requiring every UAV to carry heavy sensing equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between coverage area and UAV weight.
2Area of stationary object
If airborne sense and avoid systems are used, then geographic coverage is extended, but weight, power, and payload restrictions are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
Airborne escort UAVs serve as intermediaries between ground-based radar systems and the primary UAV. These escort UAVs carry sensing equipment and communicate detected objects to the primary UAV, enabling extended airspace coverage without requiring the primary UAV to directly carry heavy sensing equipment, thus managing system complexity while expanding coverage.
3Measurement precision
If more sensing equipment is added to UAV, then detection capability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing capabilities of multiple UAVs are merged into a coordinated network. Instead of each UAV carrying complete sensing equipment, the system combines data from ground-based radar and airborne escort UAVs to achieve comprehensive detection accuracy while distributing power consumption across multiple platforms rather than concentrating it on a single UAV.
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
This solution allows UAVs to fly farther and operate safely without additional weight, supporting various civilian and military functions by providing extended utility and enhancing air traffic safety through real-time detection and avoidance of other airborne objects.
Implementation Method 1
sensor data from a mobile ground-based platform and sensor data from a ground-based radar surveillance system
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for unmanned aerial vehicles are provided. One method includes receiving, by a control system, sensor data from a mobile ground-based platform and sensor data from a ground-based radar surveillance system, the control system configured to communicate with a first UAV and a second UAV; detecting, by the control system, an object likely to impede the second UAV flight within a flight path, the object detected based on the sensor data received from the mobile ground-based platform, the ground-based radar surveillance system or both the ground-based radar surveillance system and the mobile ground-based platform; generating, by the control system, an indicator indicating an object in the flight path; and transmitting, by the control system, the indicator to the first UAV.