UAV Network Access via Cellular-WLAN Relay Control Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile cellular networks provide inadequate high-altitude coverage, making it difficult for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to access networks effectively, and the addition of cellular communication circuits increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a combination of cellular and wireless local area network (WLAN) communication circuits to enable UAVs to access mobile communication networks, where the UAV control terminal acquires and forwards information through these circuits to ensure network access and collision event prediction, thereby overcoming coverage limitations without requiring additional cellular circuits on the UAV.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellular communication circuit is added to UAV, then network access capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control terminal acts as an intermediary device that possesses both cellular communication circuit and WLAN communication circuit. It establishes cellular connection with the base station and WLAN connection with the UAV, thereby enabling network access for the UAV without equipping it with cellular communication circuit. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing network access capability while avoiding the cost of adding cellular circuit to the UAV.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dual communication circuits are used for network access, then network accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into two independent parts: the control terminal equipped with dual communication circuits (cellular and WLAN), and the UAV equipped with only WLAN communication circuit. This segmentation allows the control terminal to handle the complexity of dual circuit management while the UAV remains simple, thereby improving network accessibility without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If flight path information is shared between UAVs, then collision prediction accuracy is improved, but information transmission complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control terminal performs multiple functions: it manages dual communication circuits for network access, and simultaneously serves as an information exchange hub for sharing flight path information between multiple UAVs. By consolidating these functions in a single device, the system improves collision prediction accuracy through information sharing while avoiding the complexity of implementing direct peer-to-peer communication between UAVs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to access a network, applicable to a UAV control terminal, and comprising: acquiring, through a first communication circuit, information to be transmitted between the UAV and a mobile communication network; forwarding, to a second communication circuit, the information to be transmitted; and transmitting, through the second communication circuit, the information to be transmitted to an information receiving end comprising the UAV or a target base station of the mobile communication network; wherein the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit are of different types comprising a cellular communication circuit and a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication circuit. A UAV control terminal and a base station are further provided.