UAV Drop Altitude Control Using Relative Elevation Difference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drone delivery systems face challenges in accurately determining the height of drones relative to designated drop locations, especially when carrying packages, due to interference from tethers or the lack of height sensors, which can lead to incorrect height measurements and potential delivery issues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves calculating a relative elevation difference between the start and drop locations using predetermined elevation values and altitude measurements, allowing the drone to adjust its altitude to ensure accurate delivery by using this difference as a proxy for height, even in the absence of reliable height sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the drone uses tethers to carry packages, then the drone can deliver products, but the tethers interfere with height sensor measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation method that uses the known elevation difference between start and drop locations as a mediator to determine the required height adjustment, bypassing the need for direct height sensor measurements that are interfered with by tethers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical height sensor measurement system with a computational approach using elevation data and altitude differences, eliminating the interference problem caused by physical tethers blocking sensors
2Device complexity
If the drone lacks height sensors, then the drone structure is simpler, but the drone cannot accurately determine height relative to drop location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the predetermined elevation difference between locations as an intermediary value to calculate the required altitude adjustment, enabling height determination without direct height sensor measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a computational model that copies the function of height sensors by using elevation data and altitude differences to derive the same height information needed for safe delivery
3Manufacturing precision
If the drone adjusts altitude based on elevation difference, then the delivery accuracy is improved, but the navigation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the elevation difference between start and drop locations before the flight, allowing the drone to pre-determine the required altitude adjustment and simplify in-flight navigation decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the calculated elevation difference is continuously compared with the actual altitude change, allowing the drone to adjust its navigation to maintain the correct height relationship with the drop location
Data Source
AI summary
Unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) selection information identifying a UAV, flight path information, and a relative elevation difference value that is a difference between a first elevation value of a start location and a second elevation value of a drop location are received. Navigation of the UAV is initiated using the UAV selection information and the flight path information. A relative altitude difference value is obtained using a first altitude value of the UAV associated with the start location and a second altitude value of the UAV associated with the drop location. In response to a difference between the relative elevation difference value and the relative altitude difference value being outside a predefined threshold, UAV is caused to adjust the second altitude value such that an updated difference between the relative elevation difference value and an updated relative altitude difference value is within the predefined threshold.