UAV Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface for Signal Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with portable base stations face battery life issues due to high power consumption when trying to establish communication in emergency scenarios, especially when oscillations in position and orientation affect signal propagation, leading to service degradation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) on UAVs, which dynamically compensates for undesired oscillations by configuring RIS parameters to steer signal reflections towards target areas, optimizing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and fairness, using optimization algorithms and sensor measurements to maintain connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UAV equipped with a portable base station is used to establish communication in emergency scenarios, then connectivity to hard-to-reach areas is improved, but battery consumption increases due to high power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a passive reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) as an intermediary component mounted on the UAV. This RIS surface reflects and redirects communication signals between ground base stations and target areas, eliminating the need for the UAV to actively transmit high-power signals. The RIS acts as a smart mirror that programmatically controls signal propagation, thereby maintaining connectivity reliability while dramatically reducing the UAV's power consumption.
2Reliability
If the UAV remains stationary to maintain stable signal reflection, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the ability to reach moving target areas or respond to changing conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability through two mechanisms: (1) The RIS parameters are continuously reconfigured in real-time to track and compensate for UAV oscillations and position changes, maintaining optimal signal reflection angles. (2) The UAV can dynamically adjust its flight position and orientation based on target area movements or environmental changes, while the RIS compensates for the resulting signal variations through parameter reconfiguration. This dynamic system maintains high SNR while enabling response to changing conditions.
3Reliability
If the UAV compensates for oscillations by adjusting its position and orientation, then connectivity stability is improved, but additional power consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the passive RIS surface as a mediator to achieve connectivity stability without requiring active UAV position adjustments. The RIS parameters are reconfigured to compensate for oscillations, effectively decoupling the stability function from the UAV's active systems. This transfers the stabilization burden from the UAV's power-consuming position control systems to the passive RIS, which requires minimal power for parameter reconfiguration.
4Area of stationary object
If traditional active base stations are used on UAVs, then communication coverage is improved, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex active base station system with a simple passive RIS surface mounted on the UAV. This RIS surface, controlled by reconfigurable parameters, reflects and directs signals from ground base stations to target areas. The complexity is shifted from the UAV's communication equipment to the ground-based network's ability to coordinate with the RIS, thereby simplifying the UAV system while maintaining coverage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/electrical active transmission system with an electromagnetic field-based passive reflection system. Instead of using active antennas and power amplifiers on the UAV to generate and transmit signals, the system uses the RIS surface to passively reflect and redirect electromagnetic signals from ground base stations, fundamentally changing the mechanism from active generation to passive redirection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances communication performance by maintaining stable connectivity in emergency situations, reducing battery consumption, and providing reliable ultra-band connectivity to first responder teams and victims in hard-to-reach areas, outperforming traditional solutions in terms of SNR and fairness.
Implementation Method 1
steering, based on the RIS parameters and by the RIS of the UAV, a signal reflection associated with a signal beam to a target area
Data Source
AI summary
A method for establishing a direct communication using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a reconfiguration intelligent surface (RIS) includes configuring RIS parameters based on compensating for undesired oscillations of a position and an orientation associated with the UAV. A signal reflection associated with a beam signal is steered to a target area based on the RIS parameters and by the RIS of the UAV. The signal beam is from a transmitter.