UAV Positioning with Millimeter-Wave Beams for GNSS-Denied Flight

The patent replaces complex optical flow navigation systems with a simplified radio-based positioning system. Instead of using camera sensors and sophisticated image processing algorithms, the invention uses a receiver to detect radio signals from base stations, determining position through signal strength comparison and time difference of arrival measurements. This substitution of mechanical/optical systems with electromagnetic field-based systems reduces device complexity while maintaining navigation reliability.

The patent employs inexpensive radio frequency signals and simple receiver hardware instead of expensive camera systems and complex processing units. The base stations transmit standard radio signals that can be received and processed by low-cost receivers on UAVs, providing an economical alternative to sophisticated optical navigation equipment.

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the receiver continuously monitors radio signal characteristics from multiple base stations and adjusts the UAV's position to maintain alignment with the predefined airway. The system compares actual position (determined by signal strength and time difference) with desired position and provides corrective guidance, enabling precise path following along predetermined flight corridors.

The patent divides the navigation space into discrete positioning regions defined by the spatial arrangement of base stations. Each base station covers a specific area, and the UAV determines its position by comparing signals from multiple segmented coverage zones, enabling precise location tracking along the predefined airway through spatial segmentation of the environment.