SBIR Phase I: A software-based tool for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone's connection reliability enhancement

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是提高无人机超视距飞行（BVLOS）的安全关键连接标准。无人机通信市场需要以可承受的价格向BVLOS无人机应用提供卓越的链路可靠性。拟议的技术旨在控制BVLOS操作，从而提高安全性，增加监管当局和社会对自主空域系统的信任。改善空中链路的基于网络的解决方案需要昂贵的网络增强和大量的无人机设备来盈利。该团队专注于利用当前的移动网络解决空中指挥和控制问题；该技术寻求与5G网络完全融合，并与后续网络兼容。这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在开发和降低超视距（BVLOS）无人机的连接可靠性增强算法，提高连接可靠性。技术改进允许使用任何一代网络（2G/3G/4G/5G），为全球95%的人口提供连接可靠性。该团队有三个使能创新：1)语音通道通信冗余，将命令转换为通过语音通道传输的音频信号；2)切换（HO）优化算法，最大限度地减少乒乓HO、无线电链路故障（RLF）和连接损失；3)安全路线规划，允许无人机操作员在给定网络环境下选择可靠连接的最佳路线。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to improve standards for safety-critical connectivity of drones flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). The drone communication market requires superior link reliability to BVLOS drone applications at an affordable price. The proposed technologies seek to control BVLOS operations enabling improved safety and increased trust in autonomous airspace systems from both regulatory authorities and society. Network-based solutions to improve airborne links require costly enhancements to the network and a large number of drone devices to be profitable. The team is focused on solving aerial command and control problems using the current mobile network; The technology seeks full integration with the 5G network and compatibility with subsequent network generations.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and de-risk the connection reliability enhancement algorithms for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drones, enhancing connection reliability. The technological improvements allow use of any network generation (2G/3G/4G/5G), delivering connection reliability to 95% of the global population. The team has three enabling innovations: 1) voice channel communication redundancy which translates commands into audio signals transmitted over the voice channel, 2) an algorithm for handover (HO) optimization which minimizes ping-pong HO, radio link failures (RLF) and connection losses, and 3) safe route planning which allows drone operators to select the best route for reliable connectivity given the network circumstances.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.