3D UAV Flight Path Generation Under Terrain Altitude Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating flight paths for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are inefficient, particularly in managing altitude changes along two-dimensional flight paths with varying elevations, leading to increased energy consumption and inefficient flight control.
Innovation Solution
A flight path generation system that acquires route and elevation data to generate a three-dimensional flight path for UAVs, adjusting altitudes to ensure the maximum flight altitude does not exceed a predetermined level, incorporating descent regions to minimize vertical movement and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the UAV maintains horizontal movement along the two-dimensional flight path, then the flight path is simple to generate, but the flight altitude may exceed the predetermined altitude limit in excess regions
Solution Approach 1:
The flight path is divided into multiple regions (first region, excess region, second region) based on altitude characteristics. The processor segments the flight path to identify where altitude constraints are violated and applies different control strategies to each segment, resolving the contradiction by making the flight path generation adaptable to local conditions rather than uniformly simple or uniformly compliant.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight path generation system dynamically adjusts the UAV's flight altitude based on real-time position and terrain elevation data. Instead of maintaining a fixed horizontal flight path, the system dynamically modifies the three-dimensional flight path to ensure altitude compliance while minimizing vertical movements, thus resolving the contradiction between path simplicity and constraint compliance.
2Reliability
If the UAV frequently adjusts flight altitude to maintain compliance, then the altitude constraint is satisfied, but energy consumption increases due to increased vertical movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the flight path using elevation data to identify excess regions before the UAV reaches them. By pre-calculating the optimal three-dimensional flight path that avoids altitude violations, the system eliminates the need for reactive altitude adjustments during flight, thus satisfying altitude constraints while minimizing energy-consuming vertical movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flight path parameters (altitude, position) based on terrain elevation data and UAV position. By optimizing these parameters in advance to create a smooth three-dimensional flight path, the system reduces the number and magnitude of altitude adjustments required during flight, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining compliance.
3Ease of operation
If the UAV flies at higher altitudes to avoid terrain, then the flight path is simpler, but the flight altitude exceeds the predetermined first altitude in excess regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a three-dimensional copy of the flight path that incorporates terrain elevation information. Instead of using a simple two-dimensional horizontal path, the system generates a corresponding three-dimensional path that mirrors the terrain contours, allowing the UAV to follow terrain variations while maintaining altitude compliance and operational simplicity.
4Reliability
If the system generates a three-dimensional flight path with precise altitude control, then altitude compliance is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight path generation system segments the terrain data and flight path into manageable regions based on elevation characteristics. By processing and analyzing terrain data in segments rather than as a whole, the system reduces computational complexity while still ensuring altitude compliance through localized path adjustments in identified excess regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A flight path generation system for generating a three-dimensional flight path for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes an acquisition device to acquire route data including information of a two-dimensional flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle and map data including information of elevation at each point on the two-dimensional flight path, and a processor configured or programmed to generate the three-dimensional flight path by determining a flight altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle from a ground on the two-dimensional flight path based on the two-dimensional flight path and the elevation. The processor is configured or programmed to determine the flight altitude in an excess region with an altitude not exceeding a first altitude and a first region with an altitude not exceeding the first altitude, such that a maximum value of the flight altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the excess region does not exceed the first altitude.