UAV Flight Path Control for Moving Targets and Obstacle Avoidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight control systems for aerial vehicles are not intuitive and require significant manual input, making them difficult to use, especially when the target object changes position, size, shape, or orientation, and when obstacles are present, limiting their effectiveness in dynamic environments without clear GPS signals.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow an aerial vehicle to automatically generate and follow a motion path based on real-time parameters of a target object, using a graphical human-system interface to adjust trajectories and avoid obstacles, even in environments with poor GPS signal quality or irregularly shaped targets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual flight control is used, then the aerial vehicle can be operated with existing control systems, but the operation becomes complex and requires significant manual skill and input
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the aerial vehicle to automatically generate its own motion path by detecting target object parameters and computing flight trajectories without requiring manual piloting. The vehicle serves itself by autonomously navigating around the target while the operator only needs to select the target object.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-computes the motion path and flight trajectory before the aerial vehicle begins its flight. By calculating the optimal path in advance based on target parameters and vehicle characteristics, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time manual control decisions during flight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual control is used to track moving targets, then the aerial vehicle can follow target movements, but the operator must continuously adjust the trajectory in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously detects the target object's position, size, shape, and orientation parameters and uses this feedback to automatically update the motion path. The aerial vehicle autonomously adjusts its trajectory in response to target movements without requiring manual intervention, eliminating the time delay associated with human reaction and control adjustments.
3Reliability
If GPS-based control is used, then the aerial vehicle can navigate using position data, but the system fails in environments with poor GPS signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the target object itself as an intermediary reference point for navigation. Instead of relying on external GPS satellites, the aerial vehicle detects target parameters (position, size, shape, orientation) and uses these as a local reference frame to compute and follow the motion path, enabling reliable operation in GPS-denied environments.
4Ease of operation
If automatic motion path generation is implemented, then manual piloting burden is reduced, but the system requires processing of target object parameters and path computation
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the flight control task into distinct functional modules: target parameter detection, motion path generation based on detected parameters, trajectory computation considering vehicle dynamics, and execution control. This modular segmentation manages system complexity by organizing functions into separate, manageable components while maintaining automated operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices are provided herein for controlling one or more movable objects via a graphical user interface. A method for controlling a movable object may be provided. The method may comprise generating a motion path comprising at least one spatial point defined relative to one or more parameters of a target object; and determining one or more motion characteristics of the movable object for the at least one spatial point.