VTOL Flight Planning With Turnarounds for Complete Imaging Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual flight control of UAVs often results in reduced accuracy, efficiency, and speed due to the challenges of precise direction changes and uneven operation paths, which can lead to incomplete image coverage and lower image quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate a flight plan for UAVs by determining straight-line segments and turnarounds within a geographical area, optimizing the path based on desired image resolution, wind conditions, and vehicle characteristics, ensuring the UAV follows a straight-line course with minimal overshoot and efficient energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual flight control is used, then the operator can adjust the flight path in real-time, but the accuracy, efficiency, and speed of operation are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing multiple possible flight paths before the aerial vehicle departs. The ground control station determines optimal flight paths in advance based on the area to be imaged, vehicle characteristics, and environmental conditions, then transmits these pre-computed paths to the vehicle for execution
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic path selection by providing multiple pre-determined flight paths with different characteristics (e.g., different orientations, spacing, or patterns) and allowing real-time selection or adjustment based on changing conditions such as wind, battery status, or mission requirements, making the automated system adaptable rather than rigid
2Productivity
If preprogrammed operations are used, then operational accuracy and speed improve, but the ability to handle unexpected conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides multiple pre-determined flight paths that can be dynamically selected based on real-time conditions. If weather changes, obstacles appear, or mission priorities shift, the operator or automated system can switch between pre-calculated paths or generate new ones, maintaining both speed and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows modification of flight path parameters such as altitude, speed, spacing between parallel lines, or orientation angles. These parameters can be adjusted to optimize performance under different conditions while maintaining the structured efficiency of pre-programmed operations
3Manufacturing precision
If straight-line segments with turnarounds are used, then image coverage completeness improves, but the complexity of path planning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging area is divided into manageable straight-line segments that can be systematically covered. The ground control station automatically segments the area and calculates optimal flight paths along these segments, ensuring complete coverage while maintaining relatively simple individual path segments that are easy to execute and monitor
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates smooth curved transition segments (turnarounds) at the ends of straight-line segments. These curved paths allow the aerial vehicle to smoothly change direction without abrupt turns, ensuring continuous image coverage during transitions while maintaining flight stability and imaging quality
4Use of energy by moving object
If parallel straight-line segments are optimized for energy efficiency, then energy consumption decreases, but the number of possible flight paths increases requiring selection criteria
Solution Approach 1:
The system varies key parameters of parallel straight-line segments such as spacing between lines, orientation angles, and altitude to optimize energy efficiency. By adjusting these parameters based on wind conditions, terrain, and vehicle characteristics, the system generates multiple optimized path options that can be evaluated and selected based on energy consumption metrics
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for receiving, by a processor having addressable memory, data representing a geographical area for imaging by one or more sensors of an aerial vehicle; determining one or more straight-line segments covering the geographical area; determining one or more waypoints located at an end of each determined straight-line segment, where each waypoint comprises a geographical location, an altitude, and a direction of travel; determining one or more turnarounds connecting each of the straight-line segments, where each turnaround comprises one or more connecting segments; and generating, by the processor, a flight plan for the aerial vehicle comprising: the determined one or more straight-line segments and the determined one or more turnarounds connecting each straight-line segment.