UGV-UAV Travel Control Using Periodic Aerial Route Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) supporting unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) face power consumption issues due to their smaller battery capacity, limiting their ability to fly over the UGVs for extended periods.

Innovation Solution

A travel control system that includes an UGV with an UAV mounted on it, utilizing program code to control the UAV to fly away at predetermined timings for region sensing, and adjust UGV travel based on sensing data to optimize power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the unmanned aerial vehicle flies over the unmanned ground vehicle for a long time to sense the route, then the sensing coverage is improved, but the power consumption of the unmanned aerial vehicle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing coverageVSAvoidpower consumption of unmanned aerial vehicle

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device controls the unmanned aerial vehicle to perform periodic flight above the unmanned ground vehicle at predetermined intervals during travel, rather than continuous flight. This periodic sensing approach maintains adequate route monitoring coverage while allowing the aerial vehicle to conserve battery power during non-sensing periods, directly resolving the contradiction between sensing coverage and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device determines in advance whether the unmanned ground vehicle will travel on a new route not previously sensed, and only then initiates aerial vehicle flight for sensing. This preliminary determination avoids unnecessary sensing flights on already-mapped routes, reducing power consumption while maintaining sensing coverage where actually needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the unmanned aerial vehicle is used to support travel of the unmanned ground vehicle, then the travel safety is improved, but the power consumption of the unmanned aerial vehicle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetravel safetyVSAvoidpower consumption of unmanned aerial vehicle

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic sensing flights at predetermined intervals during ground vehicle travel, providing continuous safety monitoring over time while allowing the aerial vehicle to remain stationary or return to base between flights, thereby maintaining travel safety without requiring constant aerial presence that would deplete battery power

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device uses sensing data obtained from aerial vehicle flights to determine whether the ground vehicle can safely continue traveling. This feedback mechanism ensures travel safety by making routing decisions based on actual route conditions, while avoiding unnecessary aerial flights when safety is already confirmed through previous sensing or when routes are well-established

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12530035B2Travel control system, control method, and control device

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 RAKUTEN GROUP INC

AI summary

The travel control system S causes the UAV 2 to fly away from the UGV 1 on the travel route at a predetermined timing in order to sense the sensing region from the sky. And then, the travel control system S controls travel of the UGV 1 on the basis of sensing data obtained by sensing the sensing region by the UAV 2 having flown away from the UGV 1.