Controlled UAV Landing Zones With Remote Access and Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The expansion of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) usage is hindered by public safety concerns and the lack of practical solutions for delivering articles to users unfamiliar with UAVs, with existing proposals not adequately addressing access control, charging, and medical supply delivery.
Innovation Solution
A UAV system with controlled access zones, a flight management system, and communication units for secure access, charging, and medical supply management, including remotely operable locks, automatic charging cables, and medical supply locations, ensures safe and efficient UAV operations and deliveries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If UAV zones are made accessible for landing and take-off, then UAV operation efficiency is improved, but public safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the facility into multiple distinct UAV zones (landing zones, take-off zones, charging zones, medical supply zones) separated by barriers. Each zone is independently controlled with its own access management, allowing UAV operations to occur in specific areas while restricting public access to other areas, thus maintaining operational efficiency while ensuring public safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces automated barriers, remotely operable locks, and flight management systems as intermediary control mechanisms between the public and UAV operations. These intermediaries automatically manage zone access based on flight status, charging requirements, and medical supply delivery needs, reducing direct human intervention risks while maintaining safe operational workflows.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If access control systems are implemented for each UAV zone, then public safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight management system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls barriers, manages zone access, coordinates charging operations, and oversees medical supply delivery. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single integrated platform, improving public safety through comprehensive control while actually reducing overall system complexity through functional consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs automated barriers with remotely operable locks that self-manage access based on pre-programmed conditions and flight management system commands. The automated nature of these controls reduces the need for manual intervention and simplifies operation, as the system automatically handles access decisions based on operational status, charging needs, and delivery requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized zones are provided for different UAV functions, then service quality is improved, but area occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested zone structure where smaller functional areas (charging zones, medical supply zones) are contained within or adjacent to larger operational zones. This nested arrangement allows multiple specialized functions to coexist in a compact footprint, with zones sharing common infrastructure such as barriers, communication systems, and control mechanisms, thereby providing high service quality while minimizing total area occupied.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system operates with a flight management system and has controlled access UAV zones, each being UAV landing, loading, takeoff. A control and communication unit controls access to each UAV zone. A barrier around each zone controls entry into that zone. An opening in the barrier permits personnel to enter. A closure for the opening is locked by at least one remotely operable lock. A communications module is operable to control the lock for that zone to govern access to and entry into that zone by users. A flight management system is separate from the plurality of zones and in communication with the control and communication unit and with each communications module, and responsive to requests by users to allow access. At least some of the UAV zones are charging zones that include at least one charging cable for charging a battery of a UAV.