Control device and control method
Provided are a control device and a control method by which an airplane can maintain flight while maintaining a high level of safety, even if there is a conceivable abnormal event such as a communication failure or an obstacle. This control device is for an airplane, the control device being characterized by: comprising a setting unit that sets a main flight route, which is a normal flight route, and at least one secondary flight route, for each of a plurality of airplanes, and a management unit that prevents interference between a given main flight route and a given secondary flight route, and a main flight route and secondary flight route of another airplane; obtaining information about an airplane or the surrounding airspace; and when the information matches a preset prescribed condition, permitting the airplane to operate using the secondary flight route.
1 . A control device for an aircraft, the control device comprising:
a control unit that receives, from a first aircraft, information on the first aircraft and information on airspace around the first aircraft;
a setting unit that set, without an aircraft request for a flight path, for each of a plurality of aircraft including the first aircraft, a primary flight path as a normal flight path and one or more secondary flight paths to which a respective aircraft is permitted to switch based on satisfaction of a corresponding predetermined condition;
a management unit that avoids an interference of the primary flight path and the secondary flight path determined for the first aircraft with a primary flight path or a secondary flight path of other aircraft of the plurality of aircraft; and
the control unit configured to transmit the primary flight path, the predetermined condition, and the secondary flight path to the first aircraft to cause, at least in part, a flight control unit on the first aircraft to operate the first aircraft initially on the primary flight path and, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, drive at least one actuator to control the first aircraft to follow the secondary flight path.
2 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit transmits the primary flight path and the secondary flight path to the first aircraft together with the predetermined condition in advance, the primary flight path and the secondary flight path being established by the setting unit and confirmed by the management unit not to interfere with a primary flight path or a secondary flight path of another aircraft of a plurality of aircraft, and
an operation on the secondary flight path is determined by the first aircraft.
3 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the setting unit sets the secondary flight path using a destination point of each aircraft of a plurality of aircraft and information on each aircraft including at least one of: a possible flight time, a possible flight distance, specifications, or a flight performance.
4 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the setting unit sets a flight path terminating at a point outside a control zone, a flight path terminating at a landing point, a space required for hovering, a path or airspace having an annular shape or the like that allows a continuous flight, a space within a specified height range, or a flight path including a combination thereof, as the secondary flight path.
5 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the setting unit specifies an available time for a part of or all sections of a secondary flight path.
6 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the management unit defines a virtual occupied space around a flight path, the virtual occupied space being specified by a part or all of an aircraft dimension, a positioning performance, a control error, and an allowable deviation range, and manages a presence or absence of an interference based on a presence or absence of contact between the virtual occupied spaces.
7 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
for a part or all of the secondary flight paths shared by the control unit, when there is no longer a possibility of performing a flight using the secondary flight path, the control unit receives a from the respective aircraft, an indication that the secondary flight path is unnecessary from the aircraft.
8 . A control method for an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving, from a first aircraft, information on the first aircraft and information on airspace around the first aircraft;
setting, without an aircraft request for a flight path, for each of a plurality of aircraft including the first aircraft, a primary flight path as a normal flight path and one or more secondary flight paths to which a respective aircraft is permitted to switch based on satisfaction of a corresponding predetermined condition;
avoiding an interference of the primary flight path and the secondary flight path determined for the first aircraft with a primary flight path or a secondary flight path of other aircraft of the plurality of aircraft; and
transmitting the primary flight path, the predetermined condition, and the secondary flight path to the first aircraft to cause, at least in part, a flight control unit on the first aircraft to operate the first aircraft initially on the primary flight path and, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, drive at least one actuator to control the first aircraft to follow the secondary flight path.
9 . The control method according to claim 8 , further comprising
transmitting the primary flight path and the secondary flight path to the first aircraft together with the predetermined condition in advance, the primary flight path and the secondary flight path being confirmed not to interfere with a primary flight path or a secondary flight path of another aircraft of a plurality of aircraft, and
determining an operation on the secondary flight path by the first aircraft.