UAV Operational Mapping for Coverage and Viewing Area Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UAVs face challenges in navigating unknown and complex terrains due to insufficient terrain characterization, including no-fly zones and varying altitudes, which hinders uninterrupted maneuvering and accurate estimation of coverage and viewing areas.
Innovation Solution
An advanced pilot assistance system (APAS) that generates an operational map by merging geographical data with image frames, allowing users to select a home position and representing distinct altitudes with different colors, while checking no-fly zones and elevation data to estimate coverage and viewing areas effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional UAVs use preloaded navigation maps and altitude data, then basic navigation is enabled, but terrain characteristics such as no-fly zones, altitude variations, and coverage area estimation cannot be accurately determined
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating an operational map before UAV flight operations. The map is created by integrating geographical map data, elevation data, and no-fly zone data, allowing the UAV to have advance knowledge of terrain characteristics, coverage area, and viewing area before actual flight, thus avoiding information loss during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple data sources including geographical maps, elevation data, no-fly zone data, and UAV operational parameters into a single integrated operational map. This combination consolidates scattered terrain characteristics information into one comprehensive visual representation, enabling accurate determination of coverage area and viewing area without increasing device complexity
2Reliability
If the UAV operates in unknown terrain without operational map, then basic flight is possible, but uninterrupted maneuvering cannot be ensured due to lack of terrain awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The operational map is generated in advance before flight operations, providing the UAV with pre-knowledge of the terrain environment. This preliminary action enables the UAV to plan and execute uninterrupted maneuvers by avoiding no-fly zones and accounting for altitude variations before encountering them during flight
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user through the operational map, displaying terrain characteristics, coverage area, and viewing area information in a visual format. This feedback mechanism makes complex terrain data easily interpretable, improving ease of operation while ensuring reliable uninterrupted maneuvering
3Measurement precision
If detailed terrain data is collected and processed, then accurate coverage area and viewing area estimation is achieved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The operational map and coverage area estimation are generated in advance before flight operations begin. By performing this computationally intensive processing beforehand, the system achieves accurate measurement of coverage area and viewing area without causing time loss during actual flight operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes terrain data in a simplified dimensional representation by creating a 2D operational map from 3D geographical data. This dimensional transformation reduces computational complexity while maintaining measurement precision for coverage area and viewing area estimation
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for estimating coverage area and viewing area for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 104 (UAV 104) is disclosed. It involves creating an operational map of a home location's area coverage 302 pertaining to a complex terrain based on no fly zone polygon data and elevation data, based on the information of the area coverage provided by a navigation unit. The map is created using multiple sample points and validating said sample points by checking whether or not they are at no fly zone or exceeding maximum AGL. Moreover, the operational map is drawn by using home location as a center point. Further, it involves determining and generating coverage area and viewing area of the UAV based on the operational map. It also discloses a feature of checking take-off suitability.