UAV Ground Control Handover Across GCS and GCC Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air control infrastructure is inadequate for managing missions of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly those controlled from the ground, due to limitations in data communication and management between control systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a computer-implemented method for automated transition of vehicle mission management among remote ground operators, ground control stations (GCSs), and ground control centers (GCCs), enabling real-time handover and roaming of vehicle control between GCSs and GCCs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated handover and roaming systems are implemented among GCSs and GCCs, then vehicle mission management safety and efficiency are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground control stations (GCSs) and ground control centers (GCCs) as intermediary components that facilitate automated handover and roaming operations. These intermediaries manage the complex coordination between multiple vehicles and operators, absorbing the system complexity while enabling reliable mission management. The GCSs act as local control nodes that can independently handle vehicle transitions, reducing the burden on individual operators and improving overall system reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If real-time vehicle reassignment between GCSs is enabled, then operational flexibility is improved, but data communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-establishing data communication channels and protocols between GCSs and GCCs before handover operations are needed. Mission data, vehicle status information, and control parameters are pre-synchronized and buffered, enabling rapid real-time reassignment without requiring intensive on-demand data transmission. This preliminary preparation reduces the actual data communication burden during dynamic reassignment operations while maintaining high operational flexibility.
3Productivity
If automated control transition systems are deployed, then mission management efficiency is improved, but infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the ground control stations and centers with multi-functional capabilities that handle multiple tasks simultaneously: vehicle monitoring, operator management, handover coordination, data communication, and mission control. This universal design allows a single infrastructure component to perform diverse functions, improving mission management efficiency without requiring separate specialized systems for each function. The standardized multi-functional architecture reduces overall infrastructure complexity while enabling automated control transitions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure provide for handover or roaming of unmanned vehicles and missions between ground control stations (GCSs) of the same or different ground control centers (GCCs). Some embodiments receive a control change indication indicative of reassignment of a vehicle associated with a first GCS that is associated with a first GCC. Some embodiments reassign the vehicle from a first GCS to a second GCS associated with the GCC to enable the second GCS to newly access data corresponding to the vehicle via the master control system to enable control of the vehicle. Some embodiments reassign the vehicle from a first GCC to a second GCC by copying data corresponding to the vehicle from the master control system of the first GCC to a second master control system of a second GCC to enable control of the vehicle via at least one GCS of the second GCC.