UAV Flight Data Recording for Operator-Adaptive Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current civilian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack advanced flight data recording capabilities, which hinders accident reconstruction, operator experience optimization, and safety improvements, as they do not compile usage statistics, adjust performance based on operator experience, or share flight data effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for recording and analyzing operational data from UAV sensors, which includes analyzing collected data to update platform performance characteristics based on operator experience, enabling different operational functions, and sharing data through location-based networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flight data recording capability is added to civilian UAVs, then accident reconstruction and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccident reconstruction capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: flight data recording, operator experience analysis, performance adjustment, and image/video capture are merged into one unified platform. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety and analytical capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flight data recorder is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: recording operational parameters, analyzing operator behavior patterns, adjusting UAV performance characteristics, capturing accident imagery, and enabling data sharing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized systems.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If operator experience analysis and performance adjustment are implemented, then operator experience optimization is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance adaptation to operator skillVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors flight data, analyzes operator performance patterns, and provides feedback by automatically adjusting UAV performance characteristics. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables adaptive optimization without requiring complex manual intervention systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The UAV system automatically analyzes operator experience levels and adjusts its own performance characteristics without external intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously optimizing performance based on recorded operational data and identified operator skill patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If image and video recording of flight accidents is implemented, then accident investigation capability is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccident investigation capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-positions image and video recording devices and pre-configures them to automatically capture accident scenes when triggered by flight data anomalies. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for continuous high-energy recording operations, activating capture only when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous recording, the system uses periodic sampling and event-triggered capture mechanisms. Image and video recording are activated only during specific events or anomalies, significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive accident investigation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Measurement precision

If comprehensive operational data is collected and stored, then data analysis accuracy is improved, but loss of substance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata analysis accuracyVSAvoiddata storage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and stores only the most critical flight parameters and operator behavior indicators needed for accurate analysis. By selecting and storing only essential data elements rather than all possible operational data, the system maintains high analysis accuracy while minimizing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Different data parameters are stored with different levels of detail and retention periods based on their analytical importance. Critical safety parameters are stored with high precision and long retention, while less critical parameters use reduced precision and shorter retention, optimizing the balance between analysis accuracy and storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3570132B1System and method for data recording and analysis
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 SZ DJI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3570132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3570132B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3570132B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and apparatus for data recording and analyzing operational data and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The apparatus can monitor and record data generated by a plurality of operational and extended sensors each positioned on a moving platform. The data recording and analysis system can analyze the sensor data during movement and, by performing a statistical analysis of the operational data, can advantageously adjust one or more selected performance capabilities of the platform. For example, the performance envelope of a platform can be increased or decreased according to the experience of an operator. The recorded data can be transmitted at any suitable time, including during and/or after travel. The apparatus provides redundant storage capability and the ability to store information on removable media to enable sharing of data. Thereby, the system, apparatus and method advantageously can optimize the operator's overall experience controlling a platform.