UAV Energy Management System for Safe Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UAV power management systems often waste flight time and energy by prematurely returning to a landing station due to relying on voltage thresholds, leading to inefficient missions and potential power exhaustion during long or complex flights.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system that estimates remaining battery energy and calculates landing energy, dynamically modifying the mission plan to select an optimal transition point and route to the landing station, ensuring sufficient power and minimizing unnecessary returns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional systems use voltage threshold monitoring to determine when to return to landing station, then the UAV can avoid power exhaustion, but it wastes flight time and energy by returning prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of remaining energy and landing energy before the UAV actually needs to return. By computing these values in advance and comparing them, the system determines the optimal return moment beforehand, avoiding both premature returns and dangerous delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the return decision based on real-time energy conditions. Instead of using a fixed voltage threshold, the system continuously monitors battery voltage and current, calculates remaining energy dynamically, and compares it with dynamically calculated landing energy requirements, allowing flexible optimization of each return decision.
2Reliability
If conventional systems return to landing station based on voltage threshold, then the UAV maintains safety margin, but it travels excessive distances to landing station
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the decision parameter from fixed voltage threshold to a dynamic comparison between remaining energy (calculated from voltage and current) and landing energy (calculated from distance and energy consumption rate). This parameter transformation enables more precise control of the return decision, optimizing both safety and travel distance.
3Productivity
If UAV continues flight with remaining battery power, then mission efficiency improves, but risk of power loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring battery voltage and current, recalculating remaining energy and landing energy at each moment. This real-time feedback loop allows the UAV to extend flight as long as remaining energy exceeds landing energy, while automatically triggering return when the margin becomes insufficient, thus optimizing the balance between mission efficiency and safety.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing energy of a UAV during flight. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods assist in safely returning a UAV to ground while reducing diversionary time for providing energy to the UAV. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods calculate a measure of remaining energy with regard to a UAV flying a mission plan and a measure of landing energy needed to travel to a landing station. The disclosed systems and methods can select a transition point from a mission plan and route leading from the mission plan to the landing station by comparing the calculated measure of remaining energy and the calculated measure of landing energy. Moreover, the disclosed system and methods can modify a mission plan to include the selected transition point and route.