UAV Landing Perch Self-Test Control for Safe Pre-Flight Launch

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Solution Overview

Problem

The parcel delivery process faces challenges with increased delivery volumes, including logistical and technical hurdles in utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for efficient package transport, particularly in ensuring safe and regulated flight operations and data transfer.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a UAV landing perch with force sensors, a controller, and communication interfaces that performs pre-flight tests and authorizes UAV launches, along with a network of perches for charging, storage, and data transfer, ensuring compliance with air traffic control and efficient package delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-flight tests are manually performed by delivery drivers, then operational safety can be ensured, but delivery time and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational safetyVSAvoiddelivery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV autonomously performs pre-flight self-tests without human intervention. The test system automatically checks battery status, motor function, sensor calibration, and other critical systems, then generates a pass/fail result. This self-testing capability eliminates the time penalty of manual inspections while maintaining safety standards through automated verification protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs comprehensive pre-flight tests automatically before each delivery mission. By conducting all necessary safety checks in advance through automated routines, the system ensures operational reliability is established beforehand, allowing immediate departure once tests pass without delays for manual verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If comprehensive pre-flight tests are conducted, then flight safety is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The landing perch serves multiple functions: it acts as a charging station, a pre-flight testing platform, and a launch pad. The same physical infrastructure that charges the UAV battery also houses the test system and controls the launch sequence. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating what could be separate complex subsystems into a single integrated platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the test system, charging system, and launch control into a single integrated landing perch unit. The test controller communicates with both the charging system and launch mechanism, creating a unified system that manages multiple functions through a single interface rather than separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If automated pre-flight testing is implemented, then delivery efficiency is improved, but initial setup cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidsetup complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV autonomously performs comprehensive pre-flight self-tests without human intervention. The test system automatically checks battery status, motor function, sensor calibration, and other critical systems, then generates a pass/fail result. This self-testing capability eliminates the time penalty of manual inspections while maintaining safety standards through automated verification protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If multiple perches are deployed for charging and data transfer, then operational reliability is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each landing perch is designed as a multi-functional unit that provides charging, pre-flight testing, data transfer, and launch capabilities. This universal design allows the same infrastructure to support multiple operational requirements without needing separate specialized systems for each function, reducing overall infrastructure complexity while maintaining high operational reliability through redundancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10023326B2Pre-flight self test for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Publication Date: 2018.07.17 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a controller instructs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docked to a landing perch to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine. The controller receives sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from one or more force sensors of the landing perch, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation. The controller determines whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within an acceptable range. The controller causes the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.