3D UAV Wind Mapping for Altitude-Specific Flight Plans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coarsely-grained wind forecasts are inadequate for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) due to their shorter flight distances and varying wind conditions with altitude, leading to insufficient information for creating effective flight plans.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a network of UAVs to collect real-time wind measurements, generate three-dimensional wind maps and predictions, and adjust flight plans to account for micro wind conditions, including turbulence and delivery times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If coarsely-grained wind forecasts with 0.5° lateral resolution are used for flight planning, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the measurement precision of wind conditions is insufficient for short-distance UAV flights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple UAVs flying at different locations and altitudes to collectively build a high-resolution wind map. By merging individual UAV measurements into a unified dataset, the system achieves fine-grained wind condition detection without requiring each individual UAV to have complex measurement capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional horizontal wind forecasts to three-dimensional wind mapping by incorporating altitude as an additional dimension. Multiple UAVs measure wind conditions at different altitudes, creating a vertical profile that captures how wind varies with height, thereby achieving higher measurement precision in three-dimensional space
2Loss of information
If coarsely-grained wind forecasts are used, then the forecast system is simple to generate, but it fails to capture microscopic wind conditions along flight paths
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wind measurements by deploying multiple UAVs to collect wind data at various locations and altitudes before final flight planning. This advance data collection creates a detailed three-dimensional wind map that captures microscopic wind conditions, allowing subsequent flights to benefit from pre-acquired high-resolution wind information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual three-dimensional model of wind conditions that replicates the actual atmospheric state. This digital wind map serves as a copy of the physical wind environment, allowing flight planners to analyze and optimize routes without directly measuring winds during each flight planning cycle
3Adaptability or versatility
If wind vectors from weather gauges or commercial aircraft are used, then data collection is straightforward, but the wind vectors are not suitable for UAV flight plans due to altitude differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by having UAVs measure wind conditions at their specific operational altitudes rather than using wind data from ground-level weather gauges or high-altitude commercial aircraft. Each UAV collects wind vectors locally at its own flight level, ensuring the data is directly applicable to UAV flight dynamics and performance at those specific altitudes
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for taking into account micro wind conditions in a region. The system comprises a plurality of aerial vehicles within the region and a wind speed calculator. Each of the plurality of aerial vehicles has an altitude sensor and a GPS receiver. The wind speed calculator is configured to determine wind vectors within the region using measurements from the plurality of aerial vehicles.