Air Traffic Management for Collaborative Routing of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles via Potential Fields

TL;DR

This research introduces a quantifiable standard for defining routing restrictions for Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) using the concept of repulsive potential fields and proposes a scalable infrastructure that facilitates collaborative routing of cargo Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by independent shareholders.

Abstract

Aerial cargo transport is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the distribution of goods within urban environments. The shift is propelled by the surge in e-commerce, the imperative to deliver essential supplies to isolated areas, and the growing demand for expedited and more accessible deliveries. Our research introduces a quantifiable standard for defining routing restrictions for Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) using the concept of repulsive potential fields. Furthermore, we propose a scalable infrastructure that facilitates collaborative routing of cargo Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by independent shareholders. The practicality of the infrastructure is validated through a functional prototype implemented at a national scale.

Figures (6)

• Figure 1: Aerial cargo delivery operating airspace sector in a hypothetical city. The operating height would ideally be above most buildings and having minimal interaction with the airspace of low-flying aircraft.
• Figure 2: 3D surface plot of a potential field and a low-energy route.
• Figure 3: Fundamental units that form the basis of complex potential fields.
• Figure 4: GeoJSON polygon geometry object of the park can be estimated by multiple RGeoJSON rectangles and/or ellipses. When compared to a single rectangle covering the park, the combined ellipses minimize the extent of the airspace that is restricted. Map courtesy of Google Maps.
• Figure 5: Overview of the proposed infrastructure and information exchange.