Unmanned Vehicle Path Assignment for Unpredictable Surveillance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visual monitoring of large geographic areas is costly and inefficient due to the need for numerous fixed cameras and manned security patrols, which are expensive and predictable, making them vulnerable to intrusion detection.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or semi-autonomous unmanned vehicle system that randomly generates and manages flight paths for drones to provide unpredictable surveillance coverage, using algorithms and randomization to maximize area coverage while minimizing human resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed cameras and manned security patrols are used for monitoring large geographic areas, then surveillance coverage is provided, but the cost increases and predictability makes them vulnerable to intrusion detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static fixed cameras to dynamic unmanned vehicles that can change positions and patrol routes. The system generates random patrol paths that are periodically updated, making the surveillance pattern unpredictable while maintaining continuous coverage of the monitored area.
Solution Approach 2:
The unmanned vehicles operate autonomously without requiring human pilots during flight. The system self-manages path generation, vehicle control, and data collection, reducing the need for human resources while maintaining reliable surveillance coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If numerous fixed cameras are deployed to cover large areas, then surveillance coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned vehicles serve multiple functions: they can monitor different geographic areas, adjust to varying surveillance requirements, and replace multiple fixed camera systems with a single mobile platform that provides comprehensive coverage through randomized patrol patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the monitored area into regions that can be covered by a fleet of unmanned vehicles working in coordination. Each vehicle independently covers its assigned area while the collective fleet provides complete surveillance coverage, reducing the need for numerous individual fixed cameras.
3Reliability
If manned security patrols are used for monitoring, then surveillance effectiveness is maintained, but human resource requirements and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned vehicles operate autonomously without requiring human pilots during flight operations. The system self-manages navigation along generated paths, data collection, and communication with the monitoring center, eliminating the need for human operators on board and reducing human resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human-operated mechanical patrol systems with automated unmanned vehicles controlled by computer-generated algorithms. The random path generation and automated vehicle control substitute for human decision-making and manual operation, maintaining surveillance effectiveness while reducing human resource needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms are provided for monitoring an area utilizing an unmanned vehicle. These mechanisms identify an area to be monitored by an unmanned vehicle and identify an unmanned vehicle assigned to monitoring the identified area. The mechanisms further generate, for the unmanned vehicle, a travel path to be traversed by the unmanned vehicle using a function to randomize generation of the travel path. Moreover, the mechanisms program the unmanned vehicle to traverse the generated travel path and initiate operation of the unmanned vehicle to collect data about the area while traversing the generated travel path. In addition, the mechanisms monitor the area utilizing the unmanned vehicle based on the data collected by the unmanned vehicle while traversing the generated travel path.