Cloud-Based Virtual UAV Management for Multi-Drone Mission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for integrating drones with the Internet of Things (IoT) face challenges in accommodating real-time data and reliability constraints, particularly in managing complex computations and ensuring reliable mission execution for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with limitations in communication range and stability, and a lack of scalable solutions for advanced applications.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based management system that uses Internet protocol for UAVs, enabling virtualization, computation offloading, and dynamic mission planning, allowing multiple UAVs to be controlled and monitored through a cloud service with APIs for high-level programming, and providing seamless access to resources over the Internet for various missions like surveillance and disaster recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex computations are performed on-board drones, then real-time data processing capability is improved, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex computation tasks from the drone's on-board processing units and relocates them to cloud-based virtualized computing resources. The drone's on-board computer retains only essential functions for real-time control, while heavy computational loads such as image processing, mission planning, and data analysis are performed remotely in the cloud, thereby reducing the drone's energy consumption while maintaining real-time data processing capability.
2Productivity
If multiple UAVs are managed with centralized control, then coordination and mission execution are improved, but communication range and stability limitations worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based virtualized management platform as an intermediary between multiple UAVs and the control system. This cloud platform acts as a mediator that coordinates UAV missions, manages communication protocols, and handles data exchange, thereby improving multi-UAV coordination while overcoming the limitations of direct peer-to-peer communication range and stability through the use of infrastructure-based Internet connectivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If advanced applications are deployed on drones, then functionality and versatility are improved, but device complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtualized copies of computing resources, storage, and application environments in the cloud that can be dynamically allocated to drones. Instead of embedding complex advanced applications directly on each drone's limited hardware, the system provides access to cloud-based virtual machines and containers that replicate sophisticated processing capabilities, thereby enhancing drone functionality without increasing the physical device complexity of the drones themselves.
4Productivity
If cloud-based virtualization is implemented, then resource utilization and scalability are improved, but system architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal cloud-based virtualized platform that serves multiple functions: computation offloading, storage management, mission coordination, data processing, and application deployment. This multi-functional platform consolidates what would otherwise require separate specialized systems, thereby improving resource utilization and scalability while managing overall system architecture complexity through a unified approach rather than multiple discrete complex components.
Data Source
AI summary
A Internet protocol-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) management system and method is disclosed that includes UAVs including a communication chip, a user computer, a cloud-based service for performing a virtual UAV. The method includes storing a plurality of pre-planned missions, controlling communication between the UAV and the user computer, mapping the UAV to the virtual UAV, assigning a mission to include multiple waypoints, and allocating the task at the multiple waypoints. Dynamic mission planning of the assigned mission is performed to generate planned paths for performing the task. Operation of the UAV is controlled by way of the corresponding virtual UAV including receiving messages and commands for the mission from the user computer, sending control commands to the UAV, receiving data signals from the UAV, and transmitting location and status of performance of the task for the UAV. The cloud-based service performs image processing using the received data signals.