UAV Laser Spot Collision Avoidance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that float in midair often collide with each other, especially as the number increases, due to lack of effective collision avoidance systems.

Innovation Solution

An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a propulsion unit, a laser light source, and an imaging unit that captures images below, allowing the controller to analyze light spots and measure positional relationships with other UAVs, enabling autonomous collision avoidance by adjusting flight paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If many flying robots are made to simultaneously float in midair, then information display capability is improved, but collision risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of flying robotsVSAvoidcollision avoidance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Laser light spots serve as visual intermediaries that enable flying robots to detect and locate each other without direct communication. Each robot emits laser light that creates visible spots, allowing other robots to sense their presence and position through imaging units, thus preventing collisions in dense formations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical communication and coordination systems with optical sensing. Instead of using radio communication or mechanical signaling between robots, the system uses laser light emission and optical detection to achieve spatial awareness and collision avoidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If laser light sources are added to each UAV for collision avoidance, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The laser light source serves multiple functions: it acts as a positioning beacon for collision avoidance, provides visual identification, and enables spatial mapping. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated collision avoidance hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents collisions between UAVs by determining positional relationships through light spots and executing avoidance maneuvers, ensuring safe and collision-free midair operations without the need for direct communication between vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a laser light source configured to illuminate laser light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

an imaging unit configured to generate a captured image by capturing vertically below the unmanned aerial vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10304345B2Unmanned aerial vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to the present disclosure is an unmanned aerial vehicle that can fly in midair and includes a propulsion unit configured to generate a propulsion force for fly in midair, a laser light source configured to illuminate laser light, an imaging unit configured to generate a captured image by capturing vertically below the unmanned aerial vehicle during flight in midair, and a controller configured to control an operation of the propulsion unit. The controller analyzes a captured image, extracts a light spot formed by laser light, measures a positional relationship with another unmanned aerial vehicle based on the extracted light spot, and executes a collision avoidance operation with respect to another unmanned aerial vehicle based on the measured positional relationship.