UAV Mission Parameter Adaptation for In-Flight Condition Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) often face mission execution challenges due to varying operational conditions and component degradation, leading to unsatisfactory mission outcomes, as existing systems lack adaptive capabilities to adjust flight paths and parameters in real-time based on the UAV's current state and usage data.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving pre-calculated mission parameters, collecting UAV operation data during flight, calculating modified mission parameters, and executing these adjustments to ensure the UAV can complete its mission safely and efficiently, including pre-mission tests to assess component health and update flight paths and parameters accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pre-calculated mission parameters are used for UAV flight, then mission execution is simplified and fast, but the UAV cannot adapt to varying operational conditions and component degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic mission parameter adjustment by continuously monitoring UAV operational data during flight and automatically modifying mission parameters in real-time. The system transitions from static pre-calculated parameters to dynamic adaptive parameters that respond to changing flight conditions, component status, and environmental factors, resolving the contradiction between execution speed and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where operational data from sensors and system monitors is continuously collected during flight, analyzed against mission requirements, and used to generate adjusted mission parameters. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the UAV to adapt to varying conditions while maintaining efficient mission execution through automated real-time adjustments.
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring and adjustment of mission parameters is implemented, then mission reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the UAV system autonomously monitors its own operational parameters, detects deviations from optimal performance, and automatically adjusts mission parameters without external intervention. The system serves itself by integrating monitoring and adjustment functions into the existing flight control architecture, improving reliability while minimizing the need for additional complex external systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves multi-functionality by having the existing flight control system perform both traditional flight control functions and the new adaptive mission parameter adjustment functions. The same hardware and software infrastructure is leveraged for multiple purposes, reducing overall system complexity while enabling sophisticated real-time monitoring and adjustment capabilities that improve mission reliability.
3Reliability
If component degradation is accounted for in mission planning, then mission success rate increases, but pre-mission testing and data collection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting comprehensive component testing and data collection during manufacturing and initial operation phases to establish baseline performance characteristics and degradation rates. This advance preparation creates predictive models of component behavior that enable accurate mission success rate calculations without requiring extensive pre-mission testing for each individual mission, thus improving reliability while minimizing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for adaptive mission execution by an unmanned aerial vehicle includes receiving a set of pre-calculated mission parameters corresponding to an initial UAV mission; collecting UAV operation data during flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle; calculating a set of modified mission parameters from the set of pre-calculated mission parameters and the UAV operation data, the set of modified mission parameters corresponding to a modified UAV mission; and executing the modified UAV mission on the unmanned aerial vehicle.