UAV Flight Control for Dynamic No-Fly Zone Avoidance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems fail to effectively avoid no-fly zones that change with the movement of objects on the ground, such as humans and trains, leading to potential collisions or interference.

Innovation Solution

An UAV control system that includes moving object position acquisition, zone setting, and flight control mechanisms to dynamically set and navigate around no-fly zones based on the current position and movement of moving objects, using GPS and sensor data to adjust flight paths in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no-fly zones are set based on fixed structures only, then the system is simple to operate, but the UAV may collide with moving objects or become an obstacle to them

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The no-fly zone is transformed from a static definition based on fixed structures to a dynamic definition that automatically adjusts according to the real-time positions of moving objects detected by GPS and sensors. The zone setting means continuously updates no-fly zone boundaries as moving objects move, ensuring the UAV always avoids current positions of humans, trains, and other dynamic entities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously acquiring position information of moving objects through GPS receivers and sensors, processing this information to determine updated no-fly zone boundaries, and using this feedback to adjust the UAV's flight path in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures the UAV responds to the current state of the environment rather than following a pre-planned static path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the UAV follows a predetermined flight path, then the flight control is simple, but the UAV cannot adapt to moving no-fly zones

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to moving objectsVSAvoidflight control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flight path transitions from a static predetermined route to a dynamic adaptive path that automatically adjusts in response to moving no-fly zones. The flight control means continuously receives updated no-fly zone boundary information and recalculates the flight path in real-time, enabling the UAV to adapt its trajectory to avoid moving objects while maintaining automated flight control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The UAV system performs self-service by autonomously detecting moving objects through its GPS and sensors, automatically determining updated no-fly zone boundaries, and independently adjusting its own flight path without requiring external intervention. The flight control means processes position information and executes path adjustments autonomously, reducing the need for manual pilot input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the UAV continuously monitors moving objects, then collision avoidance is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of flightVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial monitoring by focusing computational and sensing resources on detecting and tracking moving objects that are relevant to flight safety, rather than continuously monitoring all possible environmental parameters at maximum intensity. The GPS receiver and sensors acquire position information at sufficient intervals to ensure safety while avoiding excessive energy consumption from over-monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3473552B1Unmanned aircraft control system, unmanned aircraft control method, and program
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP3473552B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3473552B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3473552B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle is caused to fly by avoiding a no-fly zone, which changes as a moving object moves. Provided is an unmanned aerial vehicle control system (1), including: moving object position acquisition means (102) for acquiring moving object position information on a current position of a moving object moving above a surface of an earth; zone setting means (103) for setting a no-fly zone in which a flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (20) is inhibited based on the moving object position information; and flight control means (105) for controlling the flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (20) so that the unmanned aerial vehicle (20) avoids the no-fly zone set based on the moving object position information.