UAV Relay Placement for Stable Cellular Coverage Along Flight Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional UAV communication systems face instability due to the use of unlicensed frequency bands and the rapid deterioration of cellular signals at high altitudes, leading to unreliable communication between UAVs and user terminals during flight.

Innovation Solution

The system employs relays along the UAV's flight path, equipped with both Wi-Fi and cellular communication units, to ensure continuous communication by switching between these modes based on signal strength, allowing the UAV to maintain connectivity through areas with weak or no cellular signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cellular communication is used for UAV communication, then rapid development of cellular technology is leveraged, but signal strength rapidly deteriorates above certain altitude leading to unstable communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecellular network integrationVSAvoidcommunication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between cellular network communication and dedicated link communication based on the UAV's altitude and signal conditions. When cellular signal is strong (lower altitudes), cellular communication is used; when signal deteriorates (higher altitudes), the system transitions to dedicated link through relays, ensuring continuous stable communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Relay stations serve as intermediaries that enable cellular communication at higher altitudes by positioning themselves within cellular coverage areas to forward signals, thus extending the effective range of cellular communication while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If unlicensed frequency band is employed for dedicated link, then communication between UAV and user terminal is established, but the quality and safety of communication cannot be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication establishmentVSAvoidcommunication quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The relay stations act as intermediaries that receive communications over the easy-to-establish dedicated link and forward them through more reliable channels (cellular networks with licensed frequencies), thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving communication quality and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11394457B2Method, apparatus and system of providing communication coverage to an unmanned aerial vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.07.19 SZ DJI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is collected while the UAV is flying along a flight path. A communication signal distribution in a proximity of the location is determined. One or more relay locations for arranging one or more relays are determined based on the communication signal distribution to improve communication coverage along the flight path. An identification of the UAV is transmitted to an authentication center for authentication, without using the one or more relays, in response to determining, based on the communication signal distribution, that the UAV is capable of directly communicating with the authentication center or a communication network associated with the authentication center above a quality threshold.