UAV Virtual Wall Deceleration Control Near No-Fly Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote controlled aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in navigating around no-fly zones (NFZs) without explicit user input, as users may not be aware of NFZ boundaries or their proximity to them.
Innovation Solution
The UAV is equipped with a flight controller that determines its geographic location and velocity, calculates the distance to the closest NFZ segment, and adjusts speed and thrust to avoid NFZs by overriding user input, using a navigation engine, distance evaluation engine, and virtual wall behavior engine to manage deceleration zones and trajectory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UAV autonomously navigates around no-fly zones by overriding user input, then navigation safety and compliance are improved, but user control and operational flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the UAV's geographic location and calculates distance to virtual walls representing no-fly zones. This feedback loop enables the flight controller to detect when the UAV approaches prohibited areas and automatically adjust the thrust vector to maintain safe distances, resolving the contradiction by providing real-time safety feedback without complete user awareness
Solution Approach 2:
The flight controller acts as an intermediary between the user's control inputs and the UAV's actual movement. When the UAV approaches a no-fly zone, the flight controller modifies the thrust commands from the electronic speed controller to prevent boundary violations, thereby maintaining user control while ensuring regulatory compliance
2Measurement precision
If the flight controller continuously monitors location and overrides user input to avoid NFZs, then navigation accuracy and compliance are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight controller performs multiple functions: it processes user inputs, calculates geographic location, determines distance to virtual walls, and adjusts thrust commands. By consolidating these functions in a single controller rather than adding separate dedicated systems, the patent achieves precise location monitoring and NFZ compliance without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The flight controller autonomously determines the UAV's location and automatically adjusts thrust to maintain compliance with no-fly zone boundaries without requiring external monitoring or intervention. This self-service capability achieves high measurement precision and compliance while minimizing the need for additional complex external systems
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), the UAV includes an electronic speed controller and a flight controller. The electric speed controller is interfaced with thrust motors of the UAV. The flight controller configured to: determine a geographic location and a velocity of the UAV, the velocity includes a first component and a second component. The flight controller is configured to determine a distance between the geographic location of the UAV and a closest segment of a no-fly zone. The flight controller is configured to determine a zone of deceleration, the zone of deceleration comprising: a distal section and a proximal section. The flight controller in response to the UAV crossing a switch point, located at an intersection of the distal section and the proximal section, changing a deceleration rate of the UAV from a first deceleration rate to a second deceleration rate by adjusting the electric speed controller and the thrust motors.