UAV Flight Area Exception Handover for UTM Control Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) face safety risks due to loss of control when they fly outside their designated flight areas, as they fail to maintain communication with controllers within the 3GPP system, leading to potential safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a flight area management method where the Unmanned Aerial System Traffic Management (UTM) system takes control of the UAV by switching the controller when it detects the UAV is outside its normal flight area, ensuring continuous control and safety through notification messages and session modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual identification and recording of flight areas is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but labor intensity is high and efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight area management efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic identification of flight areas through GPS/北斗 positioning and automated boundary determination algorithms. The server automatically calculates flight area boundaries based on takeoff and landing coordinates, eliminating the need for manual surveying and recording while maintaining system operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical surveying methods are replaced with electronic positioning systems (GPS/北斗) and automated computational algorithms. The server uses coordinate data to automatically determine flight area boundaries, replacing labor-intensive field measurements with electronic data processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If flight area boundaries are not clearly marked, then operational flexibility is maintained, but flight safety is compromised due to uncertain boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight safetyVSAvoidoperational convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses color-coded visual indicators to represent different flight area statuses. Flight areas are displayed with specific colors on the electronic map to indicate their operational state, enabling pilots to quickly identify boundaries and status without complex procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates electronic copies of flight area data including boundary coordinates, area names, and status information. These digital records are stored on the server and accessible to relevant personnel, ensuring accurate reproduction of flight area information without physical marking requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If flight area information is not shared across the network, then data security is maintained, but information utilization is low and coordination is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation sharing capabilityVSAvoiddata security risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A centralized server acts as an intermediary between mobile terminals and flight area data. The server stores, manages, and distributes flight area information to authorized users through the network, enabling controlled information sharing while maintaining security through centralized authentication and access management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server provides multiple functions including data storage, authentication, boundary calculation, and information distribution. This multi-functional platform enables various users (pilots, administrators, monitoring personnel) to access and utilize flight area information according to their specific needs while maintaining a single secure data source

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4027663B1Unmanned aerial vehicle flight area management method and related device
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4027663B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4027663B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4027663B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present invention discloses a flight area management method for an uncrewed aerial vehicle and a related apparatus. The method includes: An access and mobility management function AMF obtains flight area exception information of an uncrewed aerial vehicle, where the flight area exception information indicates that the uncrewed aerial vehicle is not located in a normal flight area. The AMF sends a flight area exception notification message to an uncrewed aerial system traffic management UTM, where the flight area exception notification message is used to indicate that the uncrewed aerial vehicle is not located in the normal flight area. When flight area exception occurs on the uncrewed aerial vehicle, using the UTM to control the uncrewed aerial vehicle can improve controlling safety for the uncrewed aerial vehicle.