UAV Control System Positioning and Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic arms in automatic manufacturing processes are limited by their fixed work area, restricting their operational range due to their length, which hinders efficient control and operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within a defined flight area.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle control system that includes an electronic device with a processing unit, image capturing device, and communication units, which captures digital images of the flight area, determines the UAV's position, and controls its movement to a predetermined position, adjusting its direction and performing operations based on pre-defined instructions, while preventing collisions by analyzing flight paths and vehicle directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a robotic arm is used in an automatic manufacturing process, then the robotic arm can perform automated operations, but the work area of the robotic arm is restricted due to the length of the robotic arm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) as an intermediary carrier to transport components or tools between the fixed robotic arm workspace and the target location. The robotic arm picks up items within its limited work area, then transfers them to the UAV, which flies to the destination and releases the items. This mediator system effectively extends the operational reach beyond the robotic arm's physical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional ground-based robotic operations to three-dimensional aerial transport by introducing UAV flight. This adds the vertical dimension to material transport, allowing items to be moved between different height levels and locations that would be inaccessible to a ground-based robotic arm of fixed length.
2Area of stationary object
If the work area is expanded to cover a larger flight area, then more operational range is achieved, but collision risk between multiple UAVs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based collision avoidance system where each UAV continuously transmits its position, speed, and trajectory information to a central controller and to other UAVs. The system processes this feedback data to calculate potential collision risks and automatically adjusts flight paths or speeds to prevent collisions, enabling safe operation in a larger flight area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary trajectory planning and collision risk assessment before UAVs enter the shared flight space. The system pre-calculates safe flight paths and establishes spatial-temporal separation between multiple UAVs, preventing potential collisions before they occur by planning routes that inherently avoid conflict zones.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device including a processing unit and a storage device receives digital images of a flight area of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) captured by an image capturing device. Then, the processing unit determines a flight position of the UAV in the flight area based on the digital images, and controls the UAV to move from the flight position to a predetermined position. The processing unit receives a vehicle direction of the UAV from an electronic compass unit of the UAV, and adjusts the vehicle direction of the UAV based on a predetermined direction. The processing unit controls the UAV to perform a predetermined operation when the UAV reaches the predetermined position and the vehicle direction is the same as the predetermined direction.