Distributed UAV Architecture for Payload Power Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in managing power and bandwidth requirements between flight critical systems and payload systems, leading to potential failures due to excessive power consumption or data bus overload by payload systems, which can compromise the operation of flight critical systems.
Innovation Solution
A distributed system architecture that separates the control and management of power and bandwidth between flight critical and payload systems, allowing the flight core processing system to dynamically negotiate and adjust power and bandwidth usage based on the UAV's flight phase and the needs of flight critical systems, ensuring they receive sufficient resources while reducing the impact of payload system anomalies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If payload modules are equipped with high power to perform their functions, then payload capability is improved, but power consumption increases and may compromise flight critical systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power state of payload modules based on flight phase and power availability. The flight core processing system receives power state requests from payload core processing systems and determines appropriate power states, transitioning payload modules between low power and high power states as needed during different flight phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power state parameter of payload modules from low power state to high power state based on flight phase and power availability. This parameter change allows payload modules to operate at full power when needed while conserving battery power during critical flight phases.
2Productivity
If payload systems are allowed to operate at full power, then payload performance is improved, but reliability of flight critical systems deteriorates due to potential failures consuming excessive power
Solution Approach 1:
The flight core processing system acts as an intermediary between payload modules and flight critical systems. It receives power state requests from payload core processing systems, evaluates power availability and flight phase, and grants or denies power state transitions to protect flight critical systems from power consumption issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a distributed architecture with separate flight core and payload core processing systems before potential failures occur. This architecture includes predefined power state management protocols that cushion against power consumption issues by preventing payload modules from requesting power states that would compromise flight critical systems.
3Reliability
If a distributed architecture with separate flight core and payload core processing systems is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing functions into separate flight core processing system and payload core processing system. Each system has distinct responsibilities: flight core handles flight critical operations and power state authorization, while payload core handles payload module control and power state requests. This segmentation improves reliability through isolation while managing complexity through clear functional boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a distributed system architecture for unmanned air vehicles. One of the methods includes obtaining information identifying flight information of a UAV, with the flight information including flight phase information or a contingency condition associated with a flight critical module included in the UAV. The obtained information is analyzed, and one or more first payload modules are determined to enter a modified power state. Requests to enter the modified power state are caused to be transmitted to each determined payload module in the one or more first payload modules.