Connectivity Map for UAV Communications Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems for moving platforms, such as UAVs, often experience loss or degradation of communication links during unplanned maneuvers or changes in orientation, leading to loss of situational awareness and potential safety risks due to the lack of consideration for connectivity issues in dynamic route or maneuver planning.
Innovation Solution
A communications system generates a connectivity map that identifies available transmitters and receivers, calculates transmitter and receiver metrics based on predicted trajectories and orientations, and defines a connectivity metric to maintain communication links, enabling dynamic planners to generate safe maneuver plans while ensuring connectivity with other platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the moving platform performs unplanned maneuvers or changes orientation to avoid obstacles or threats, then the safety and survivability of the platform is improved, but the communication link with the ground station is lost or degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating a connectivity map before maneuvers are executed. The connectivity map pre-identifies available transmitters and receivers, calculates metrics for multiple predicted trajectories and orientations, and defines connectivity metrics for each specified attitude. This allows the dynamic planner to select maneuvers that maintain communication links while ensuring platform safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The connectivity map serves as an intermediary between the dynamic planner and the communication system. It translates platform maneuvers into connectivity assessments by evaluating transmitter and receiver metrics for different trajectories and orientations. This intermediary enables the planner to make informed decisions that balance safety maneuvers with communication link maintenance.
2Reliability
If the system maintains communication links during maneuvers by using connectivity maps, then the communication reliability is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the connectivity assessment by evaluating each transmitter and receiver independently for multiple predicted trajectories and orientations. The connectivity map divides the problem into discrete specified attitudes, allowing the dynamic planner to assess communication quality for each potential maneuver separately rather than evaluating all possibilities simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates transmitter and receiver metrics for a plurality of predicted trajectories and orientations, which may exceed the minimum required for basic functionality. By pre-calculating metrics for multiple potential maneuvers, the system enables rapid decision-making during critical situations without requiring real-time computation of all possible trajectories.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus for generating a connectivity map in respect of a communications system of a moving platform, said communications system comprising at least one platform application and being configured to effect wireless data communication between said platform and another node by means of one of a plurality of supported communications links in accordance with a communications plan, wherein said apparatus is configured to: - identify (700) a message or set of messages required to be transmitted from or received by said moving platform; - generate a connectivity map comprising a plurality of connectivity metrics by, for each of a plurality of different specified attitudes or orientations derived from one or more predicted trajectories of said moving platform: - identifying available transmitters for wireless transmission of said message or set of messages and/or identify available receivers for wireless reception of said message or set of messages; - for each identified transmitter, determining (702) a transmitter metric and/or for each identified receiver, determining (702) a receiver metric; and - defining (704) a connectivity metric, based on said transmitter metrics and/or receiver metrics for said respective specified attitude or orientation, said connectivity metric being representative of a quality of a respective associated communications link for effecting transmission or reception by said platform of said message or set of messages in respect of said respective specified attitude or orientation of said moving platform.