Applying the Method of Categorical Analysis for Conceptual Design of an Automated Control System of a Group of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Conceptual design of automated control systems (ACS) is an important stage in their development and making. The miscalculations admitted during this stage, as a rule, couldn’t be compensated for in the subsequent stages of the project. At the same time, despite the great importance of this stage, nowadays there is no well-developed theory of conceptual design for ACS making and improvement. In generally, it all comes down to either using the prototype, or the talent and insight of the designer. In this article an attempt was made to develop a methodology for the conceptual design of ACS. A template for creating parametric concept of ACS with its subsequent detail through the use of the method of the categorical analysis is proposed. A method allows to form a fairly complete information space of control, taking into account all possible information interactions between groups of parameters based on the generated sequence of categorical subsets of the control process with their subsequent interpretation is described. An example of method using is demonstrated for development of the ACS concept by a group of unmanned aerial vehicles. A constructive scheme of control information, including data groups and relationships between them, is considered. An interpretation of categorical subsets, an example of detailing and data of the state of the control object and the definition of some information transformation procedures for one of the formed subsets are proposed.