UAV Operation Scheduling to Minimize Time Conflicts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require human operator intervention for tasks like airspace clearances and communication with air traffic control, leading to operator overload and inefficiency when managing multiple UAVs, as existing systems lack advanced scheduling capabilities to minimize time conflicts and optimize workload.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that generates time-based sequences for each UAV, minimizing overlap between operations by setting preferred start times based on estimated durations and coincident time periods, and provides these sequences to operators through a graphical user interface, allowing for customization and real-time updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an operator manages multiple UAVs concurrently, then operator utilization and efficiency are improved, but operator overload occurs due to inability to handle all operations in parallel
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scheduling of operations for multiple UAVs by identifying time windows and sequencing operations before execution. The scheduler pre-determines the order of operations and allocates time slots to each UAV operation, allowing the operator to review and approve the schedule without having to manage each operation in real-time, thus improving utilization while preventing overload.
2Productivity
If operations for multiple UAVs are scheduled in parallel, then productivity increases, but time conflicts and overlaps occur between operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the operational timeline into discrete time windows for each UAV operation. Each operation is assigned a specific time slot within its execution window, and the scheduler ensures that overlapping operations are separated into non-conflicting time segments. This segmentation allows multiple UAVs to operate concurrently without time conflicts, as each operation has a dedicated temporal allocation.
3Productivity
If autonomous systems handle navigation operations, then UAV operational efficiency improves, but operator intervention is still required for air traffic control communications and airspace clearances
Solution Approach 1:
The ground control system serves multiple functions: it manages autonomous navigation operations, schedules and coordinates operator interventions for ATC communications and airspace clearances, and provides a unified interface for both autonomous and manual operations. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle diverse operational modes through a single integrated platform, managing complexity while maintaining efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for coordinating operations for a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”) is provided. The system generates a time-based sequence comprising one or more operations for each UAV, each operation including an execution window and a duration, identifies coincident time periods between first and second execution windows, and prepares a modified time-based sequence for each of the plurality of UAVs. The preparing includes setting at least one of a first preferred start time (“PST”) for a respective operation within the first execution window and a second PST for a respective operation within the second execution window based on at least the estimated duration of each respective operation and the coincident time periods. The setting is configured to minimize overlap between respective operations within the first and second execution windows. Modified time-based sequences for the plurality of UAVs are then provided to an operator.