Low-Altitude UAV Collision Avoidance via Wireless Traffic Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Low flying unmanned vehicles face increased collision risks due to lack of communication with each other and FAA air traffic controllers, making evasive actions less likely and more difficult.

Innovation Solution

A low flying unmanned vehicle equipped with wireless communication capabilities using cellular, satellite, WiFi, or WiMax protocols to determine collision risks and take evasive action by receiving flight data from various objects, including commercial aircraft and other unmanned vehicles, using a standard protocol to assess collision probabilities and adjust its flight path accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If low flying unmanned vehicles operate without communication systems, then device complexity is reduced, but collision avoidance capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication system complexityVSAvoidcollision avoidance capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces wireless communication systems (cellular, satellite, WiFi, WiMax) as intermediaries between unmanned vehicles and air traffic control systems. These communication modules enable data exchange about flight paths, locations, and collision risks without requiring complex direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication protocols, thus resolving the contradiction between system complexity and collision avoidance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If unmanned vehicles do not communicate with each other or air traffic controllers, then loss of information is reduced, but collision detection accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication data lossVSAvoidcollision detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback loops where flight data from multiple sources (other vehicles, air traffic controllers, ground stations) is continuously received, processed, and used to update collision risk assessments. This feedback mechanism ensures comprehensive information gathering while maintaining data accuracy through multiple verification channels, resolving the contradiction between information loss and detection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If evasive actions are taken without accurate collision probability assessment, then collision avoidance effectiveness is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevasive action effectivenessVSAvoidtime for collision assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations of collision probability and potential evasive maneuvers in advance, using received flight data to pre-assess risk scenarios. By preparing collision avoidance strategies beforehand based on real-time data, the system can execute evasive actions immediately when threats are detected, reducing the time loss associated with last-minute decision-making while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11482114B2Automated un-manned air traffic control system

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 PRECISION HAWK USA INC

AI summary

A low flying unmanned vehicle is disclosed that may be able to determine whether a collision is possible and may take evasive action in response to the possible collision. The vehicle may wirelessly communicate and may use a standard protocol such that a variety of additional objects may be taken into account when determining the possible collision risk.