UAV Collision Avoidance Using Remote Safety Data Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) poses safety concerns due to the lack of communication with air traffic controllers and potential collisions with piloted aircraft, and the addition of onboard collision avoidance sensors increases costs, making existing solutions impractical.
Innovation Solution
A collision avoidance system that aggregates positional data from UAVs with third-party remote sensing networks, providing real-time safety data to UAV controllers to determine collision risks and generate commands for safe navigation without requiring onboard sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If onboard collision avoidance sensors are added to each UAV, then collision detection and avoidance capability is improved, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote sensing network as an intermediary system that provides collision avoidance services to multiple UAVs simultaneously. Instead of equipping each UAV with its own sensors, the system uses a centralized remote sensing network to detect and track aircraft, then communicates this information back to UAV controllers, thereby eliminating the need for expensive onboard sensors while maintaining collision avoidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The remote sensing network serves multiple UAVs simultaneously, providing a universal collision avoidance service that replaces the need for individual onboard sensors on each UAV. This multi-functional approach allows one system to perform the collision detection function for many vehicles, significantly reducing overall system cost
2Reliability
If traditional piloted aircraft communicate with FAA air traffic controllers, then flight safety and coordination is improved, but UAVs lack this communication infrastructure leading to potential interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a remote sensing network as an intermediary that bridges the gap between UAVs and the traditional air traffic control system. This network collects data from various sources including radar and other sensing systems, processes the information, and provides it to UAV controllers, enabling UAVs to access flight safety information without direct integration into the FAA control infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously receiving positional and safety data from the remote sensing network and transmitting this information back to UAV controllers. This real-time feedback loop enables UAVs to be aware of their surroundings and adjust their flight paths accordingly, providing adaptability comparable to traditional air traffic control communication
Data Source
AI summary
A collision avoidance system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a UAV controller, and a safety data aggregator. The UAV includes a positional sensor, and is coupled to communicate positional data to the UAV controller, and receive commands from the UAV controller. The safety data aggregator is coupled to communicate with the UAV controller, wherein the safety data aggregator collects positional data from one or more UAV controllers, stores collected positional data in a safety data buffer, and extracts spatially relevant positional data in response to a request from the UAV controller.