UAV Group Leader Handover for Energy-Efficient Flight Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing flight control for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying to the same target position, as individual flight control methods are energy-inefficient and create a single point of failure, with no provision for sharing flight control within the group.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism where UAVs can share flight control by designating a group leader that can delegate responsibilities based on energy levels, AI capabilities, and GPS, allowing other UAVs to follow instructions without using their own navigation resources, and swapping positions to minimize energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual flight control is used for each UAV, then each UAV can independently navigate, but energy consumption increases and a single point of failure is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges flight control functionality into a centralized group leader UAV that coordinates the entire flight group. Instead of each UAV maintaining independent navigation capabilities, the group leader consolidates these functions, allowing follower UAVs to operate in a more energy-efficient manner while maintaining overall flight control reliability through the centralized coordination mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments flight control responsibilities by designating a specific group leader UAV that handles navigation and coordination, while other UAVs focus on following instructions. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the computational and energy burden, with the group leader performing complex navigation tasks and follower UAVs executing simpler follow-along maneuvers.
2Use of energy by moving object
If flight control is centralized in one UAV, then energy efficiency improves, but a single point of failure is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic leader selection where the group leader role can be transferred between UAVs based on their current state, particularly energy levels. When the current group leader's battery becomes depleted or its state deteriorates, the system can dynamically select a new leader from other UAVs in the group, ensuring continuous operation and eliminating the single point of failure issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares for potential leader failure by establishing mechanisms to select alternative leaders before actual failure occurs. The system monitors the group leader's state and has pre-established protocols for leader replacement, ensuring that if the current leader fails, another UAV can immediately take over without compromising flight control reliability.
3Ease of operation
If all UAVs use their own navigation resources, then each UAV is self-sufficient, but overall energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal navigation resource in the form of the group leader that serves the entire flight group. Instead of each UAV maintaining separate navigation capabilities, the group leader provides navigation services to all UAVs, allowing them to function as a coordinated unit while reducing total energy consumption. Follower UAVs can operate with minimal onboard navigation resources since they rely on instructions from the group leader.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising; means for coordinating flights of unmanned aerial vehicles in a flight group comprising the unmanned aerial vehicle; means for transmitting at least one request to at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicles for a new controller of the flight group, wherein the new controller is to take over coordinating said flights from the unmanned aerial vehicle; means for receiving at least one response to the at least one request; means for selecting one of the at least one of unmanned aerial vehicles to be the new controller of the flight group using the at least one response; and means for sending an identifier of the new controller to the unmanned aerial vehicles.