UAV Altitude Control with Ground-Relative Flight Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current altitude restrictions for UAVs often fail to account for varying ground levels and complex terrains, leading to encroachment on controlled airspace or inability to reach necessary heights for tasks like surveillance and aerial photography, due to fixed altitude measurements relative to sea level without considering local ground elevations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that dynamically adjust altitude restrictions based on real-time elevation information and terrain maps, allowing UAVs to modify altitude limits relative to ground level, ensuring compliance with regulations and safety by using sensors like GPS, ultrasonic, and lidar to measure height above ground level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed altitude restrictions relative to sea level are used, then regulatory compliance is simplified, but the UAV cannot account for varying ground levels and complex terrains, leading to encroachment on controlled airspace or inability to reach necessary heights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic altitude restrictions that automatically adjust based on real-time terrain elevation data. The system transitions from static sea-level-based restrictions to dynamic ground-level-relative restrictions by continuously receiving elevation information and calculating modified altitude limits, allowing the UAV to adapt to varying terrain while maintaining regulatory compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that receives both sea-level altitude restrictions and terrain elevation data, then computes modified altitude restrictions that account for ground level variations. This intermediary layer reconciles the conflict between fixed regulatory limits and variable terrain conditions without requiring direct modification of either
2Reliability
If altitude restrictions are set relative to sea level, then regulatory compliance is straightforward, but the UAV may encroach on controlled airspace or fail to reach allowed heights for surveillance and photography
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UAV continuously monitors its position, receives real-time elevation information from external sources, and automatically adjusts its altitude restrictions based on this feedback. The system compares current terrain elevation with regulatory limits and modifies flight parameters accordingly, ensuring continuous compliance while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the altitude parameter reference frame from sea level to ground level by modifying the altitude restriction values based on terrain elevation data. This parameter transformation allows the same regulatory framework to adapt to different terrain conditions, maintaining both compliance reliability and operational flexibility
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for providing flight response to flight-restricted altitudes. A method is provided for controlling movement of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having one or more propulsion units, the method comprising: receiving, at one or more processors, one or more altitude restrictions for the UAV; receiving, at the one or more processors, map information for an area; modifying, with aid of the one or more processors, the one or more altitude restrictions based on the map information so as to produce one or more modified altitude restrictions; and outputting, from the one or more processors, control signals to the one or more propulsion units to cause the UAV to comply with the one or more modified altitude restrictions while moving over the area.