UAV Obstruction Detection via Segmented Air Traffic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for various applications poses challenges in air traffic control, including collision avoidance, obstruction detection, and managing flying lanes, as existing systems are inadequate to handle the large number of UAVs and their unique operational requirements, such as flying at low altitudes and varying routes.
Innovation Solution
An air traffic control system utilizing wireless networks to receive and analyze data from UAVs, update obstruction databases, and transmit instructions for safe flight paths, while also managing flying lanes and supporting delivery applications through communication with multiple cell towers and other wireless networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional air traffic control networks are used for UAVs, then existing infrastructure can be leveraged, but the system becomes inadequate to handle the large quantity of UAVs and their unique operational requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The air traffic control system is segmented into multiple Unmanned Aircraft Service Stations (UASS) that each manage specific geographic zones. This segmentation allows the system to handle large quantities of UAVs by distributing control across multiple independent units rather than requiring a single complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UASS as intermediary components between UAVs and the broader air traffic control network. These intermediaries provide specialized UAV-specific services including obstruction detection, flying lane management, and coordination with conventional air traffic control, thereby adapting the system to UAV operations without requiring complete system redesign.
2Adaptability or versatility
If UAVs fly at low altitudes close to ground, then delivery and inspection applications are enabled, but collision with ground obstructions becomes a major risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary obstruction detection and flying lane management before UAVs commence operations. UASS identifies potential ground obstructions and pre-plans safe flying lanes that avoid these hazards, allowing UAVs to operate at low altitudes for delivery and inspection applications without exposing them to unnecessary collision risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors UAV positions and updates flying lane information in real-time based on detected obstructions. This feedback mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of flight paths to avoid ground obstructions while maintaining low-altitude operational capabilities for delivery and inspection tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
Obstruction detection and management systems and methods are performed through an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The obstruction detection and management method includes receiving UAV data from a plurality of UAVs, wherein the UAV data includes operational data for the plurality of UAVs and obstruction data from one or more UAVs; updating an obstruction database based on the obstruction data; monitoring a flight plan for the plurality of UAVs based on the operational data; and transmitting obstruction instructions to the plurality of UAVs based on analyzing the obstruction database with their flight plan.