UAV Communication Switching for Range and Cost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face limitations in communication range and increased costs due to near field communication and mobile communication line usage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a calculation unit to determine distance, a search unit to find available wireless communication lines, and a communication continuation processing unit to switch to indirect communication via a relay device or multiple base stations, allowing for extended communication range and reduced costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If near field communication is used to operate the drone, then communication reliability is improved, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wireless communication line (mobile communication network) as an intermediary between the drone and the external environment. This allows the drone to communicate beyond the limited range of near field communication by utilizing base stations as relay points, thereby extending communication range while maintaining reliability through the established wireless infrastructure.
2Length of stationary object
If wireless communication using mobile communication line is used, then communication range is increased, but communication cost is likely to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively switching between near field communication and mobile communication line based on the drone's distance from the controller. When the drone is within a certain range, near field communication is used to avoid mobile communication costs. Only when the distance exceeds the near field communication range does the system switch to mobile communication, thus minimizing cost while maintaining extended range capability.
3Length of stationary object
If the drone switches to communication using wireless communication line, then communication range is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic switching between communication methods. The drone's control unit automatically determines whether to use near field communication or mobile communication line based on distance calculations, without requiring manual intervention from the operator. This automation reduces the operational complexity despite the presence of multiple communication systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle uses a calculation unit to calculate a distance between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a controller, uses a search unit to search for an available moving body communication line when the distance exceeds a predetermined threshold in a case where the unmanned aerial vehicle and the controller are directly communicating with each other, and uses a communication continuation processing unit to perform predetermined processing for continuing the communication depending on a search result. The unmanned aerial vehicle, the controller, and the management device may be linked to a block-chain network by communication via the block-chain network in association with processing.