On Traffic Interactions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Traffic Flow Applied to Three Dimensional Space

TL;DR

This paper explores decentralized traffic flow modeling for UAVs in 3D space, linking microscopic interaction rules to macroscopic traffic patterns to ensure safe and efficient drone traffic management.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework for 3D drone traffic flow, combining asymmetric interaction rules with numerical schemes for analyzing emergent patterns without centralized control.

Findings

Decentralized interaction rules can ensure safe UAV traffic flow.

A numerical scheme links microscopic interactions to macroscopic traffic properties.

Analysis of emergent patterns in 3D UAV traffic flow.

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) are likely to significantly increase the amount of air traffic. If the skies are full of UAVs, they need to interact with each other, for instance by yielding or other evasive maneuvers. The aggregated movements of drones will create traffic patterns. Just like in current road traffic, the interactions will be very frequent, so a centralized computer managing these interactions is expected not to be possible. There is a long history of traffic flow theory and modeling for 1 dimensional (road) traffic; this has been expanded to 2 dimensional traffic (pedestrians). It is unclear how traffic flow theory works for 3 dimensional traffic. In this paper we show how drone traffic can interact in a decentralized way. For the microscopic description, we add asymmetric interaction rules. We show that without centralized control, we can have efficient and safe traffic. Moreover, we provide a framework that directly links microscopic interactions to macroscopic properties. For the macroscopic description, we formulate and apply a numerical scheme that integrates the competition of space by UAVs for multiple classes, directions and dimensions. We apply both the microscopic and macroscopic descriptions to analyze (emerging) patterns which may arise in 3D traffic flow. The current paper provides background to develop interaction rules for drone traffic. Currently, the drone traffic is taking its first steps, but once the aeronautic technique takes off, the legislation regarding drone interactions should be ready. To support so, and be able to assess traffic consequences of decisions, the traffic flow theory framework developed here is essential.