UAV Emergency Return Routing After Communication Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UAV communication failure path planning techniques often result in potential collisions due to the lack of obstacle avoidance and inefficient return routes, which can lead to increased risk during emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for UAVs to detect communication failures and return to the last healthy communication waypoint, then use a linear shortest flight path to safely return to the home location, while monitoring parameters like location, payload, speed, and fuel level, and waiting for user command if communication is re-established within a defined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a linear shortest flight path is used for emergency return, then the distance and time to return to home location is minimized, but the possibility of collision with obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-programs multiple emergency return paths (including linear shortest path and alternative paths) and pre-identifies obstacle locations in the operational area. When communication fails, the UAV immediately executes the pre-planned safest path without time-consuming real-time obstacle detection and path recalculation, thus minimizing return time while ensuring obstacle avoidance through pre-computed safe routes
2Reliability
If the pre-programmed flight path is retraced for emergency return, then obstacle avoidance is ensured, but the time taken to return to home location increases and battery is consumed more
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the optimal emergency return path based on real-time conditions at the moment of communication failure. It evaluates multiple pre-programmed path options (linear shortest path, alternative paths) and chooses the one that provides the best balance between return time and obstacle avoidance, rather than statically following a single fixed path type
Solution Approach 2:
The operational area is divided into multiple zones with identified obstacles, and multiple discrete emergency return paths are pre-programmed through these zones. This segmentation allows the system to select an appropriate path segment that avoids obstacles while minimizing detour distance and time
3Use of energy by moving object
If the linear shortest path is used for emergency return, then battery consumption is minimized, but the possibility of collision with obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-identifies obstacle locations and pre-calculates both the linear shortest path and alternative safe paths through obstacle zones. This preliminary action allows immediate execution of the optimal path upon communication failure, minimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary detours while ensuring safety through pre-computed obstacle-aware routing
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for executing safe-return of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) moving along a path having a plurality of communication waypoints in the event of a communication failure. In an aspect, the proposed method can include the steps of detecting, at the UAV, a communication failure; enabling the UAV to return to last healthy communication waypoint location; and based on status of the communication failure, enabling the UAV to return to its home location.