Location-Based UAV Mission Plan Selection to Reduce Human Error

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the field of drone operations, there is a need to reduce human involvement in selecting mission plans to ensure accurate and consistent data collection, as incorrect selection can lead to inaccurate data and safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A system and method where a UAV controller generates a set of possible mission plans based on the UAV's location, using onboard sensors and user preferences, allowing users to select the appropriate plan for autonomous or semi-autonomous operations, thereby minimizing human error.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually select mission plans, then flexibility and user control are improved, but human error and inconsistency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidselection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic mission plan selection by having the UAV self-determine the appropriate mission plan based on its current location and stored location data, eliminating the need for manual user selection while maintaining system control and reducing human error

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the UAV's current location feedback to automatically select the corresponding mission plan from stored plans, creating a closed-loop system that continuously monitors location and adjusts mission plan selection accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If automatic mission plan selection is implemented, then reliability and consistency are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Mission plans are pre-associated with specific locations and stored in advance in the controller's memory, so that when the UAV arrives at a location, the corresponding mission plan is already ready for automatic selection without requiring complex real-time decision-making algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the operational space into discrete location segments, each associated with a specific mission plan, simplifying the selection process by matching current location to pre-defined segments rather than evaluating multiple continuous variables

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If location-based automatic selection is used, then time efficiency is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemission setup timeVSAvoidlocation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Location thresholds and boundaries are pre-defined for each mission plan area, allowing the system to quickly determine which mission plan applies based on simple threshold comparisons rather than requiring high-precision location measurement and complex geometric calculations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11472549B2Automatic location-based UAV mission plan loading

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A method may include determining a location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); generating a set of mission plans based on the location of the UAV, each mission plan including respective mission plan parameters; receiving a selection of a mission plan of the set of mission plans; obtaining mission plan parameters for the selected mission plan; and transmitting the obtained mission plan parameters to the UAV to configure the UAV according to the obtained mission parameters.