Agricultural UAV Function Activation With Preflight Permission Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The risk of unauthorized use of agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles is a significant concern.

Innovation Solution

A control system for unmanned aerial vehicles that includes a communication device to request permission from a management device before activating functions associated with planned agricultural work, and a management device that determines permission based on stored work plans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a permission request system is implemented before activating agricultural work functions, then unauthorized use is prevented, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of unauthorized useVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by requiring permission requests and authentication before activating agricultural work functions. The control device checks whether activation permissions are granted in advance, preventing unauthorized use before it can occur rather than detecting and responding to violations after they happen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A management device is introduced as an intermediary between the control device and the function activation process. This intermediary manages activation permissions and work plans, mediating the authorization process and reducing the complexity burden on the control device itself while maintaining reliable access control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If permission verification is performed before flight, then security is improved, but operation time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Permission verification and authentication are performed as preliminary actions before flight operations begin. The control device verifies activation permissions and work plan information in advance, ensuring security requirements are met before the vehicle becomes operational, thereby preventing unauthorized use without delaying actual work execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4620811A1Unmanned aerial vehicle, unmanned aerial vehicle control system, and unmanned aerial vehicle management device
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4620811A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4620811A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4620811A1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A control system includes a communication device to communicate with a management device to manage agricultural work performed by an unmanned aerial vehicle, and a control device to control operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The control device requests permission from the management de-vice, via the communication device, to activate functions associated with planned agricultural work before flight begins, and activates the functions when permitted by the management device.