UAV Restricted Area Avoidance Using Ground-Based Intrusion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for preventing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from entering restricted areas rely on pilot awareness and error-prone processes, lacking effective collision avoidance mechanisms without on-board sensors.
Innovation Solution
A restricted area avoidance system that includes UAVs, controllers, and a restricted area aggregator, which communicates flight data and restricted area information to prevent and remedy intrusions by using positional data and flight control instructions, with features like intrusion prevention modules and geographic databases to manage and alert pilots of restricted areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilot awareness and monitoring are used to prevent restricted area intrusions, then the system does not require additional on-board sensors, but the process is error-prone and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground-based intrusion prevention system that acts as an intermediary between the UAV and restricted areas. This external system receives UAV position data, compares it against restricted area databases, and provides correction commands to prevent intrusions. This resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable intrusion prevention through an external mediator rather than relying on error-prone pilot awareness or adding complex on-board sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where UAV position data is constantly monitored, compared against restricted areas, and correction commands are sent back to the UAV when potential intrusions are detected. This automated feedback mechanism eliminates the need for pilot awareness while maintaining high reliability without increasing on-board sensor complexity.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If on-board collision avoidance sensors are added to UAVs, then intrusion detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of equipping UAVs with complex on-board collision avoidance sensors, the patent uses a ground-based system as an intermediary that performs intrusion detection. The external system accesses restricted area databases and compares UAV positions against these areas, providing detection capability without modifying the UAV's on-board equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical on-board sensors with an information-based system. Rather than using mechanical or electronic sensors on the UAV to detect restricted areas, the system uses data processing and database comparison from a ground-based controller, substituting a mechanical sensing approach with an information processing approach.
3Reliability
If automated intrusion prevention systems are implemented, then reliability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the intrusion prevention function into separate modular components: a database module storing restricted area information, a monitoring module receiving UAV position data, a comparison module detecting potential intrusions, and a command module providing correction instructions. This segmentation allows the automated system to achieve high reliability while keeping individual components simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground-based controller serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication hub for receiving UAV data, a database manager for restricted areas, a detection engine for identifying intrusions, and a command generator for providing correction instructions. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single platform.
Data Source
AI summary
An intrusion prevention system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a UAV controller, and a restricted area data aggregator. The restricted data aggregator collects and stores restricted area data. The UAV controller is coupled to communicate with the UAV and the restricted area data aggregator, wherein the UAV controller receives positional data from the UAV and restricted area data from the restricted area aggregator. The UAV controller determines based on the received positional data and the received restricted area data whether the UAV is currently intruding within a restricted area or is predicted to intrude within a restricted area and wherein the UAV controller initiates actions to prevent unauthorized intrusions into restricted areas.