UAV Flight Termination Network Using Independent Backup Links
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for unmanned autonomous vehicles fail to effectively trigger a flight termination procedure when the communication link used for sending control commands malfunctions or is not operative.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a terminator network with terminator units deployed across a geographic area, utilizing additional communication links distinct from the primary communication link to send flight termination commands and exchange data with unmanned autonomous vehicles, ensuring the flight termination procedure can be triggered even when the primary link is malfunctioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the automatic drive system uses the same wireless communication link for both control commands and flight termination triggering, then the system complexity is reduced, but the reliability of flight termination triggering deteriorates when the communication link malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication function by separating control command transmission from flight termination triggering. It introduces a dedicated terminator network with terminator units that operate independently from the primary automatic drive system communication link. This segmentation ensures that flight termination can be triggered through an alternative communication pathway when the primary link fails, resolving the contradiction between system complexity and reliability.
2Reliability
If a dedicated terminator network is implemented, then the reliability of flight termination triggering is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces terminator units as intermediary components that bridge the gap between the automatic drive system and unmanned autonomous vehicles for flight termination purposes. These terminator units receive termination triggering commands from the automatic drive system via the communication network and transmit them to the vehicles through additional communication links. This intermediary approach improves reliability by providing an alternative communication pathway while managing complexity through modular design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional communication links are used for flight termination commands, then the safety of flight termination is improved, but the loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminator units operate in a periodic or on-demand manner rather than continuously. They activate to establish additional communication links when flight termination triggering is required or when primary link failures are detected, and remain dormant otherwise. This periodic operation模式 reduces energy consumption while maintaining safety improvements, as the additional communication infrastructure is only actively used when needed for termination purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided, comprising an automatic drive system connected to a communication network and configured to drive flying unmanned autonomous vehicles by exchanging messages and commands with the unmanned autonomous vehicles exploiting a communication link between the communication network and unmanned autonomous vehicles. The system further comprises a terminator network different from the communication network, the terminator network comprising terminator units deployed across a geographic area, each terminator unit configured to exchange messages and commands with unmanned autonomous vehicles located in a respective terminator unit coverage area within the geographic area through a first additional communication link, each terminator unit configured to send flight termination commands to selected unmanned autonomous vehicles through the first additional communication link, and each unmanned autonomous vehicle configured to execute a flight termination procedure in response to the reception of the termination command, the first additional communication link being different from the communication link.