UAV Geofence Envelope Control for Fuel-Aware Flight Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Obtaining authorization to fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over populated regions is hindered by regulatory challenges, requiring organizations to demonstrate airworthiness and safety, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An electronic system on the UAV determines estimated fuel remaining, fuel consumption, and wind impact, calculates flight times for current and alternative paths, and selects an alternative path if fuel is below a threshold, automatically generating a flight authorization request to regulatory agencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual authorization processes are used for UAV flights over populated regions, then regulatory compliance can be achieved, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV electronic system automatically performs fuel assessment, flight path calculation, and authorization request generation without manual intervention. The system serves itself by collecting operational data, evaluating safety parameters, and submitting regulatory compliance requests autonomously, eliminating the need for manual paperwork and processing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary safety assessments and generates authorization requests before actual flight operations begin. By pre-calculating fuel requirements, evaluating alternative flight paths, and submitting compliance documentation in advance, the system ensures regulatory approval is obtained prior to flight, streamlining the overall process
2Reliability
If automatic flight path selection is implemented based on fuel constraints, then flight safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic system dynamically adjusts flight paths based on real-time fuel status and wind conditions. The system continuously monitors fuel consumption rates and automatically recalculates optimal routes, selecting alternative paths when fuel levels drop below thresholds. This dynamic adaptation ensures flight safety without requiring overly complex predetermined protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where fuel consumption data from sensors continuously informs flight path decisions. The electronic system monitors actual fuel usage against predictions, and when discrepancies indicate potential fuel exhaustion, it automatically triggers alternative path selection. This feedback mechanism ensures safety through simple, rule-based responses to measured conditions rather than complex predictive models
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for unmanned aerial vehicle authorization and geofence envelope determination. One of the methods includes determining, by an electronic system in an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), an estimated fuel remaining in the UAV. An estimated fuel consumption of the UAV is determined. Estimated information associated with wind affecting the UAV is determined using information obtained from sensors included in the UAV. Estimated flights times remaining for a current path, and one or more alternative flight paths, are determined using the determined estimated fuel remaining, determined estimated fuel consumption, determined information associated wind, and information describing each flight path. In response to the electronic system determining that the estimated fuel remaining, after completion of the current flight path, would be below a first threshold, an alternative flight path is selected.