UAV Collision Avoidance Using On-Board Sensor Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) lack an independent system to avoid collisions and airspace violations without human intervention, especially when not in contact with a ground station, and existing systems either infringe performance limits or disturb air traffic.
Innovation Solution
A two-tiered collision and conflict avoidance system using on-board sensors to analyze airspace, employing either a short-term reactive algorithm or a medium-term path planning algorithm to determine avoidance maneuvers that comply with air traffic regulations, allowing UAVs to operate independently and transparently with conventional aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an on-board collision avoidance system is introduced into autonomous UAVs, then safety and independent operation capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collision avoidance system is divided into multiple independent modules: sensor module for detecting other aircraft, analysis unit for assessing collision risk, and flight control module for generating avoidance maneuvers. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, improving overall system reliability while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The on-board system integrates multiple functions into a single platform: it performs sensor data acquisition, collision risk analysis, avoidance maneuver generation, and flight control execution. This multi-functionality improves safety by consolidating critical operations while managing complexity through a unified system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a medium-term path planning algorithm is used to determine avoidance maneuvers, then compliance with air traffic regulations is improved, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The path planning algorithm pre-calculates multiple avoidance maneuvers and stores them in a database before they are needed. When a collision risk is detected, the system quickly retrieves and executes the pre-computed maneuver that best fits the current situation. This preliminary action ensures regulation compliance through thorough pre-planning while enabling rapid response through quick retrieval and execution.
3Extent of automation
If the UAV operates independently without ground station contact, then autonomy is improved, but ability to receive real-time guidance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV is equipped with an independent on-board collision avoidance system that autonomously performs sensor data acquisition, collision risk assessment, and avoidance maneuver execution without requiring ground station intervention. The system serves itself by making real-time decisions based on local sensor information, maintaining high autonomy while ensuring safety through self-contained operational capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A collision and conflict avoidance system for autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) uses accessible on-board sensors to generate an image of the surrounding airspace. The situation thus established is analyzed for imminent conflicts (collisions, TCAS violations, airspace violations), and, if a probable conflict or collision is detected, a search for avoidance options is started, wherein the avoidance routes as far as possible comply with statutory air traffic regulations. By virtue of the on-board algorithm the system functions independently of a data link. By taking into account the TCAS zones, the remaining air traffic is not disturbed unnecessarily. The system makes it possible both to cover aspects critical for safety and to use more highly developed algorithms in order to take complicated boundary conditions into account when determining the avoidance course.