UAV Digital Twin Synchronization With Event-Triggered Direction Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The digital twin system for UAVs faces challenges in synchronizing virtual and real statuses due to high transmission delays in wireless communication networks, particularly in switching synchronization directions between training and monitoring stages, and lacks comprehensive process synchronization.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that autonomously switch status synchronization direction by detecting event triggers, using controllers with result and process parameter feedback control modules, fusion, and output transformation to perform result and process synchronization between virtual and real UAV systems, employing PID or fuzzy control algorithms and event trigger switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless communication network is used for communication between physical end and virtual end, then the digital twin system can be applied to UAV with mobile operation, but the transmission delay increases compared with wired Ethernet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobile operation capabilityVSAvoidtransmission delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures multiple synchronization modes (real-time synchronization, delayed synchronization, event-triggered synchronization) and communication protocols before UAV operation. This allows the system to quickly switch between different synchronization strategies based on current network conditions without requiring real-time optimization calculations, thereby reducing transmission delays while maintaining mobile operation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If status synchronization direction is fixed, then the system structure is simple, but the system cannot adapt to different operation stages (training and monitoring)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to different operation stagesVSAvoidsynchronization control structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic synchronization direction switching based on operation stage detection. The system automatically identifies whether the UAV is in training or monitoring stage and adjusts the synchronization direction accordingly: during training stage, the virtual end synchronizes with the physical end; during monitoring stage, the physical end synchronizes with the virtual end. This dynamic adaptation is achieved through event-triggered mechanisms that respond to operational context changes without requiring complex manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization controller is designed with multi-functionality to handle both training and monitoring stages using a unified architecture. The same controller can operate in different synchronization modes by receiving different event triggers, eliminating the need for separate control systems for each operation stage while maintaining adaptability to different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If only result synchronization is implemented, then the synchronization process is simple, but the system ignores process synchronization which is essential for comprehensive mapping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive mapping accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization control structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the synchronization process into two distinct but coordinated components: result synchronization (synchronizing final status parameters) and process synchronization (synchronizing intermediate process parameters). This segmentation allows the system to implement comprehensive mapping by handling different types of data streams separately while maintaining overall coordination through the unified synchronization controller, thereby achieving high mapping accuracy without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms for both result and process synchronization. The feedback loops continuously monitor synchronization status and adjust transmission parameters to maintain accuracy. This feedback-based approach ensures comprehensive mapping by constantly verifying and correcting both final results and intermediate processes, achieving high precision synchronization through iterative optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11577834B1Method and system for synchronizing virtual and real statuses of digital twin system of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 GUANGDONG UNIV OF TECH

AI summary

A method for synchronizing virtual and real statuses of a digital twin system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes: performing parameter configuration for a virtual object system and a physical object system of the UAV; performing time synchronization between the virtual object system and the physical object system; detecting an event trigger type, wherein the event trigger type is a training event or a monitoring event; and triggering a corresponding synchronization controller based on the detected event trigger type, such that the synchronization controller performs result synchronization and process synchronization for the virtual object system and the physical object system based on the event trigger type, where a synchronization controller corresponding to the training event is a controller for synchronizing a physical object to a virtual object, and a synchronization controller corresponding to the monitoring event is a controller for synchronizing the virtual object to the physical object.