UAV Supervisory Control for Precise Target Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack the ability to efficiently navigate to specific target locations within a target area for precise payload delivery, often relying solely on autonomous systems that may struggle with complex environments or require human intervention, limiting their operational effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of a UAV system that allows for supervisory control interaction by a remote operator to assist with navigation, enabling the UAV to capture images of the target area, receive user input for precise target location selection, and autonomously navigate to that location for payload delivery using a retractable delivery system while hovering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the UAV operates in fully autonomous mode, then the system complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but the ability to handle complex environments and achieve precise target location is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into autonomous navigation module (for reaching target area) and supervisory control module (for precise target location selection). The autonomous module handles coarse navigation to the target area using pre-programmed waypoints, while the supervisory module engages when human input is detected to refine the exact target location, thereby achieving high precision without requiring the entire system to be complex
Solution Approach 2:
The image capture system serves as an intermediary between the autonomous navigation system and the human operator. It captures visual data of the target area and presents it to the operator for precise target location selection, bridging the gap between autonomous area navigation and human-guided precise positioning
2Reliability
If the UAV operates in remote-control mode, then human intervention improves navigation accuracy, but the ease of operation decreases and requires constant human input
Solution Approach 1:
The control mode dynamically transitions between autonomous and supervisory modes based on operational context. The system operates autonomously during normal navigation to maintain ease of operation, but automatically switches to supervisory mode when obstacles are detected or when approaching the target area, ensuring reliability without requiring constant human input
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors environmental conditions and operational status, providing feedback that triggers mode transitions. When sensors detect obstacles or when the UAV approaches the target area, the system feeds back this information and automatically engages the human operator for input, balancing autonomous operation with human oversight
3Adaptability or versatility
If the UAV uses pre-programmed navigation waypoints, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the adaptability to complex environments and real-time target selection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation process is segmented into two phases: coarse navigation using pre-programmed waypoints to reach the target area (maintaining automation), and fine navigation using real-time image data and human input to select the precise target location (enhancing adaptability). This segmentation allows the system to maintain high automation while gaining environmental adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary autonomous navigation to bring the UAV to the target area using pre-programmed waypoints before engaging the human operator. This preliminary action reduces the operator's workload to only the critical final positioning task, maintaining high automation for routine navigation while enabling human adaptability for complex target selection
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that may allow for supervisory control interaction by a remote operator to assist with navigation to a target location. The UAV may navigate to a target area and capture and send an image of the target area to the remote operator. The remote operator can then provide a user input that indicates a target location within the target area. Upon receiving an indication of the target area, the UAV can then autonomously navigate to the target location. In some examples, after reaching the target location, the UAV may initiate delivery of a payload at the target location using a retractable delivery system while the UAV hovers above.