UAV Route Controller for Deconflicted Waypoint Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack collision avoidance capabilities, particularly when operated by a single user, as they are not readily programmable and do not have integrated autopilot systems for collision prevention.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that includes a receiver for deconflicted routes, a communications interface, and a processor to generate vehicle control signals, enabling automatic route deconfliction by avoiding obstacles, which can be wirelessly or wiredly communicated to the UAV, using navigation systems like GPS for determining current positions and calculating maneuvers to reach waypoints while avoiding collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If COTS UAVs are used without integrated programmable autopilot, then ease of operation is improved, but collision avoidance capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A standalone controller unit is introduced as an intermediary device that interfaces between the simple handheld flight controller and the UAV. This external controller receives deconflicted routes from a deconfliction engine and generates appropriate control signals, enabling collision avoidance without modifying the original COTS UAV or requiring programmable autopilot integration.
2Productivity
If multiple UAVs are controlled by a single user, then productivity is improved, but collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where each UAV's controller continuously receives deconflicted route information from a central deconfliction engine. The deconfliction engine processes real-time position data from multiple UAVs and generates updated routes that prevent collisions, allowing a single user to safely operate multiple UAVs simultaneously through automated conflict resolution.
3Ease of operation
If manual flight control is used, then ease of operation is improved, but automatic route deconfliction capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the flight control functionality into two separate components: a simple handheld flight controller for basic manual operation and a standalone controller unit for automated route deconfliction. This segmentation allows the UAV to benefit from both manual ease of operation and automated collision avoidance without requiring a complex integrated programmable autopilot system.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for an unmanned vehicle is described. The controller comprises: a receiver for receiving a deconflicted route from a deconfliction engine, the deconflicted route comprising at least one waypoint; a first communications interface for enabling electrical communication between the controller and a corresponding communications interface on an unmanned vehicle; and a processor. The processor is configured to: receive the current position of the unmanned vehicle; generate a vehicle control signal for instructing the unmanned vehicle to perform a manoeuvre which moves the unmanned vehicle from its current position to the at least one waypoint; and transmit the vehicle control signal to the unmanned vehicle through the first communications interface. An unmanned vehicle, a system and method of controlling an unmanned vehicle are also described.