UAV Handover Between Ground Control Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air control infrastructure is inadequate for managing missions of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly those controlled from the ground, due to limitations in data communication and management between control systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a computer-implemented method for automated transition of vehicle mission management among remote ground operators, ground control stations (GCSs), and ground control centers (GCCs), enabling real-time handover and roaming of vehicle control between GCSs and GCCs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated handover and roaming systems are implemented among GCSs and GCCs, then vehicle mission management safety and efficiency are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground control stations (GCSs) and ground control centers (GCCs) as intermediary entities between UAVs and operators. These intermediaries manage vehicle missions, enable automated handover between operators, and coordinate roaming between different control centers, thereby improving safety through systematic control while distributing system complexity across multiple specialized components rather than concentrating it in a single system
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent GCSs and GCCs that can operate autonomously. Each GCS manages specific vehicle missions and can hand over control to other GCSs or GCCs through standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows the system to scale without proportionally increasing overall complexity, as each segment handles a defined subset of functions
2Loss of time
If real-time automated handover of vehicle control is implemented, then mission continuity is improved, but data communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication channels and data sharing protocols between GCSs and GCCs before handover is needed. Mission data, vehicle telemetry, and control parameters are prepared and made available for transfer in advance, enabling seamless real-time handover without last-minute data scrambling or communication delays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal data communication protocols and standardized interfaces that enable the same communication infrastructure to serve multiple functions: real-time telemetry transmission, handover coordination, roaming management, and emergency fallback. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated communication channels for each purpose
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure provide for handover or roaming of unmanned vehicles and missions between ground control stations (GCSs) of the same or different ground control centers (GCCs). Some embodiments receive a control change indication indicative of reassignment of a vehicle associated with a first GCS that is associated with a first GCC. Some embodiments reassign the vehicle from a first GCS to a second GCS associated with the GCC to enable the second GCS to newly access data corresponding to the vehicle via the master control system to enable control of the vehicle. Some embodiments reassign the vehicle from a first GCC to a second GCC by copying data corresponding to the vehicle from the master control system of the first GCC to a second master control system of a second GCC to enable control of the vehicle via at least one GCS of the second GCC.