UAV Sensor Crowdsourcing via Shared Flight Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Entities face challenges in obtaining UAV sensor data due to the high costs and time-consuming nature of maintaining or hiring drones for data collection, especially when excess capacity of drones already flying for other purposes is not utilized effectively.
Innovation Solution
A data management system that connects UAS operators with entities needing sensor data, allowing for demand-driven crowdsourcing by identifying capable UAS, modifying flight plans as needed, and incentivizing operators with compensation, while storing and processing data for efficient retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If entities maintain or hire drones for data collection, then data collection capability is ensured, but operational costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables drones to perform multiple functions: their primary mission (delivery, surveillance, etc.) and secondary data collection function. The system allows any drone flying in the airspace to contribute sensor data to multiple clients simultaneously, transforming single-function drones into multi-functional platforms that serve both their operator and data-requiring entities
Solution Approach 2:
Drones automatically share their sensor data through the system without requiring dedicated data collection missions. The drones continue their primary operations while autonomously contributing excess sensor capacity to the crowdsourcing network, eliminating the need for separate data collection operations
2Reliability
If entities hire dedicated drones for data collection, then data quality and availability are guaranteed, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data management system that acts as an intermediary between drone operators and data-requiring entities. This platform matches data requests with available drone capacity, facilitates automated data collection and delivery, and handles pricing and transactions, enabling efficient crowdsourced data collection without direct entity-to-drone coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple drone data streams into a unified crowdsourcing network. By merging the sensor capacities of numerous drones operating in different locations and missions, the system creates a pooled resource that provides reliable data coverage across diverse geographic areas and conditions
3Ease of operation
If entities operate independent drone fleets, then data collection control is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically allocates data collection tasks based on real-time drone availability, location, sensor capabilities, and client requirements. Rather than static assignments, the platform continuously matches emerging data requests with drones that are already flying in relevant areas, optimizing resource utilization as conditions change
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include receiving a request for a first set of data to be gathered by an unmanned aircraft system. A first unmanned aircraft system may be identified that is capable of gathering the first data. A request may be transmitted to the first unmanned aircraft system to gather the first set of data. The first set of data gathered by the first unmanned aircraft system may be received.