Connection plate with flow guide holes and corresponding logistics drone

Abstract

The application provides a connecting plate with flow guide holes and a corresponding logistics unmanned aerial vehicle. The connecting plate comprises a center part for shielding an opening of a cargo compartment, a peripheral part extending outward from the periphery of the center part, a windward area, a left side area, a right side area and a leeward area, a first group of through flow guide holes being arranged in the leeward area, a second group of through flow guide holes being arranged in the left side area, a third group of through flow guide holes being arranged in the right side area and being symmetrical to the second group of flow guide holes about a longitudinal center line of the connecting plate, a first mounting part being arranged in the left side area and being staggered with the second group of flow guide holes and being used for mounting a first leg part of an unmanned aerial vehicle main machine, and a second mounting part being arranged in the right side area and being staggered with the third group of flow guide holes and being used for mounting a second leg part of the unmanned aerial vehicle main machine symmetrically to the first leg part. By using the connecting plate, the vibration of the unmanned aerial vehicle in flight is significantly reduced, and the stability and safety of the unmanned aerial vehicle are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, and more specifically to a connecting plate with flow guide holes and a corresponding logistics UAV. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of drone technology, drones are increasingly being used in the logistics field, benefiting people's lives. In cities, drones flying in the air can greatly reduce the impact on ground traffic; in rural areas, drones can fly over mountains, rivers, and grasslands to deliver goods to places that are difficult for logistics vehicles to reach.

[0003] To enable drone logistics, a cargo bay needs to be installed on the drone via a connecting device. Existing connecting devices and cargo bays significantly interfere with the drone's aerodynamic characteristics, causing severe vibrations during flight. This can lead to failures in mechanical and electrical structures, posing safety risks. Furthermore, existing connecting devices are complex in structure, using metal materials such as aluminum alloys, and are heavy, limiting the drone's cargo-carrying capacity.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to provide a cargo hold connection device that can effectively reduce vibration and is lightweight, as well as a logistics drone using such a connection device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In a first aspect of the invention, a connecting plate with guide holes is provided for connecting the main unit and cargo compartment of a logistics drone. The connecting plate includes: a central portion for shielding the opening of the cargo compartment; and an outer peripheral portion extending outward from the periphery of the central portion, having a windward area, a left side area, a right side area, and a leeward area. A first set of through-holes is provided in the leeward area; a second set of through-holes is provided in the left side area; and a third set of through-holes is provided in the right side area, which is symmetrical to the second set of through-holes about the longitudinal centerline of the connecting plate. A first mounting portion offset from the second set of through-holes is provided in the left side area for mounting a first leg of the drone main unit; and a second mounting portion offset from the third set of through-holes is provided in the right side area for symmetrically mounting a second leg of the drone main unit to the first leg.

[0006] According to this design, during the drone's flight, airflow can pass smoothly through each set of guide holes, reducing the pressure difference between the upper and lower sides of the connecting plate. Simultaneously, airflow can also pass through the second and third sets of guide holes, reducing eddies caused by the obstruction of airflow by the support legs. Furthermore, because the second and third sets of guide holes are symmetrically distributed, the airflow state on both sides is balanced, resulting in a near-balanced airflow force on both sides of the connecting plate. In summary, the vibration during drone flight is significantly reduced, improving the stability and safety of the logistics drone.

[0007] In some designs, no guide holes are provided in the windward area of ​​the outer perimeter.

[0008] According to the plan, the connecting plate in the windward area has high strength and can stably install the camera.

[0009] In some embodiments, the connecting plate is also used to mount the tripod; a third mounting part is provided in the leeward area, offset from the first set of air guide holes, and a fourth mounting part is provided in the windward area; the first, second, third, and fourth mounting parts are used to mount the upper frame of the tripod, and each air guide hole in the first, second, and third sets is configured such that a portion is located on the side of the upper frame near the center, and another portion is located on the side of the upper frame away from the center.

[0010] According to this scheme, the airflow can flow along both sides of the upper frame and pass through the connecting plate from the guide holes on both sides, reducing the possible vortices formed on both sides of the upper frame, further improving the aerodynamic distribution near the connecting plate, and helping to reduce vibration.

[0011] In some designs, each of the first, second, and third groups of guide holes is configured such that more than 50% of the portion is located on the side of the upper frame closer to the center, and less than 50% but not zero of the portion is located on the side of the upper frame farther from the center.

[0012] According to the design, most of the flow guide holes are located on the inner side of the upper frame, and the installation of the upper frame strengthens the structure of the connecting plate.

[0013] In some embodiments, the upper frame of the tripod is formed by connecting crossbars installed in the windward, left, right, and leeward areas, and the crossbars are cylindrical; each of the first, second, and third groups of guide holes is an elongated hole; the positions of the first, second, and third mounting parts are configured such that the extension direction of the crossbars located in the left, right, and leeward areas is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each guide hole in the corresponding first, second, and third groups of guide holes, and the centerline of the crossbars located in the left, right, and leeward areas is located outside the longitudinal centerline of each guide hole in the corresponding first, second, and third groups of guide holes.

[0014] According to this design, the crossbar has a circular cross-section, and the crossbar makes line contact with the surface of the connecting plate rather than surface contact. The crossbar itself has minimal obstruction of the guide holes on the connecting plate and will not hinder the airflow from passing through the guide plate. Moreover, the airflow has minimal resistance along the arc-shaped surface of the crossbar, resulting in smoother flow and further reducing vibration.

[0015] In some designs, the distance between the contact line between the crossbar and the connecting plate and the center line of the corresponding guide hole is 10-40% of the length of the elongated hole.

[0016] According to this scheme, there are guide holes of 10-40% length located outside the contact line between the crossbar and the connecting plate to ensure sufficient airflow through the connecting plate from the outside to reduce vibration.

[0017] In some designs, the first set of guide holes is arranged equidistantly along a straight line in the leeward region, and two third mounting parts are located on the left and right sides of the first set of guide holes; the second set of guide holes is arranged equidistantly along a straight line in the left region where the first mounting parts are not provided; and the third set of guide holes is arranged equidistantly along a straight line in the right region where the second mounting parts are not provided.

[0018] According to this scheme, since the guide holes are arranged at equal intervals, eddies can be effectively eliminated, the force of possible eddies on the outer periphery of the connecting plate can be reduced, the vibration of the UAV during flight can be further reduced, and the connecting plate can be guaranteed to have good mechanical strength.

[0019] In some embodiments, each of the flow guide holes is an elongated hole with rounded ends, and the longitudinal axis of each flow guide hole is perpendicular to the outer edge of the outer periphery to which the flow guide hole is closest, and the length of the elongated hole is 2 to 10 times its width.

[0020] According to the design, this elongated shape with rounded ends minimizes airflow interference.

[0021] In some embodiments, preferably, the first group of guide holes includes 8 to 15 guide holes, and the second group of guide holes and the third group of guide holes each include 6 to 12 guide holes.

[0022] In some designs, the connecting plate is made of carbon fiber material.

[0023] According to this design, the connecting plate has high strength while significantly reducing weight, thereby reducing the overall weight of the drone and consequently reducing flight energy consumption.

[0024] In a second aspect of the invention, a logistics drone is provided, comprising a drone main unit, tripods, a cargo compartment, and a connecting plate as described in any of the above embodiments, wherein the support legs of the drone main unit are symmetrically mounted above the left and right regions of the outer periphery of the connecting plate, the cargo compartment is detachably mounted below the center portion of the connecting plate, and the upper frame of the tripods is fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the connecting plate.

[0025] According to the above solution, the drone has many advantages brought by the aforementioned connecting plate, including reduced vibration during flight and improved safety and reliability.

[0026] In some designs, the larger portion of each of the first, second, and third groups of guide holes is located on the side of the upper frame closer to the center, while the smaller portion is located on the side of the upper frame farther from the center.

[0027] In some designs, the cargo compartment can slide out from the center of the corresponding connecting plate toward the leeward side, and the lower frame of the tripod has a quick-opening crossbar on the leeward side, one end of which is pivotally fixed to a lateral link, and the other end of which is lockably fixed to another lateral link.

[0028] According to this solution, the cargo hold can be easily and quickly moved horizontally out from under the connecting plate by opening the quick-opening crossbar for loading goods, and the cargo hold can be easily and quickly moved back under the connecting plate, and then the quick-opening crossbar can be locked to prepare for transportation. Therefore, it can greatly improve the efficiency of logistics personnel in loading goods.

[0029] In some embodiments, the drone has a lidar, a GPS antenna, a 5G antenna, and a camera. The lidar is mounted on the top of the main body of the drone, the GPS antenna is mounted on the side of the main body of the drone, the 5G antenna is mounted below the arm of the drone and extends vertically downward, and the camera is mounted to the windward area of ​​the connecting plate.

[0030] According to this design, the drone's sensors are more rationally arranged, thereby optimizing the efficiency of LiDAR recognition, effectively reducing blind spots, making GPS and 5G signals more stable, reducing camera vibration, and enabling each sensor to operate with less obstacle interference, thus improving the signal stability of each sensor. Furthermore, the connection plate for mounting the camera has no airflow holes in the windward area, resulting in high structural strength, more secure installation, and more stable shooting.

[0031] In some designs, the GPS antenna is fixed to the main body of the drone host in a non-foldable manner.

[0032] According to the solution, the drone's GPS antenna is non-foldable, which can effectively avoid flight accidents caused by forgetting to erect the GPS antenna or improper installation of the GPS antenna, thereby effectively improving flight safety. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a first-view schematic diagram of the logistics drone of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the logistics drone of the present invention from a second perspective;

[0035] Figure 3A top view of the connecting plate of the present invention is shown;

[0036] Figure 4 A bottom view of the connecting plate of the present invention is shown;

[0037] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the connecting plate, cargo compartment, and legs of the present invention is shown;

[0038] Figure 6 A side view of the logistics drone of the present invention is shown.

[0039] Reference numerals: 100 Logistics drone, 1 Drone host, 2 Connecting plate, 21 Center part, 22 Outer periphery, 23 Limiting component mounting part, 24 Camera mounting part, 25 Slide rail, 26 Limiting component, 251 Cargo compartment locking mechanism, 27 First mounting part, 28 Second mounting part, 29 Third mounting part, 30 Fourth mounting part, 3 Leg, 31 Upper side crossbar, 32 U-shaped bend, 33 Bending part, 34 Rear side crossbar, 35 Quick-opening crossbar, 351 Pivoting assembly, 352 Locking assembly, 4 Cargo compartment, 51 LiDAR, 52 GPS antenna, 53 5G antenna, 54 Camera, H Flow guide hole, H1 First group of flow guide holes, H2 Second group of flow guide holes, H3 Third group of flow guide holes. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the objectives, solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise stated, the terms used herein have their ordinary meanings in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same parts.

[0041] Overall Structure

[0042] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the logistics drone of the present invention from different perspectives. As shown, the logistics drone 100 includes a drone main unit 1, a connecting plate 2, landing gear 3, and a cargo compartment 4. The drone main unit 1 has a body and incorporates a controller, battery, and other components. Multiple arms extend from the body, each arm having a power-driven propeller at its end. Multiple support legs extend from the base plate of the main unit, each support leg being attached to the upper surface of the connecting plate 2. The connecting plate 2 connects the drone main unit 1, the landing gear 3, and the cargo compartment 4. The drone main unit 1 is mounted on the upper surface of the connecting plate 2, and the cargo compartment 4 is detachably mounted on the lower surface. The landing gear 3 surrounds the cargo compartment 4, providing protection. The landing gear 3 consists of an upper frame, a lower frame, and lateral connecting rods on the sides. The upper frame is fixed to the connecting plate 2, for example, it can be mounted on its upper surface, and the lower frame is used for support on the ground.

[0043] In this article, the term "front side" refers to the side of the drone facing forward during flight, and "lee side" refers to the side of the drone facing backward during flight.

[0044] Connecting plate

[0045] This invention provides a carbon plate with flow guide holes as a connecting plate for logistics drones, in order to solve the vibration problem of logistics drones and improve their load capacity.

[0046] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The top and bottom views of the connecting plate 2 of the present invention are shown respectively, with the lower side being the windward side and the upper side being the leeward side. As shown, the connecting plate 2 has a central portion 21 and an outer peripheral portion 22, the outer peripheral portion 22 extending outward from the periphery of the central portion 21. The outer peripheral portion 22 has a windward region, a left side region, a right side region, and a leeward region. The outer peripheral portion 22 is provided with a plurality of guide holes H penetrating its thickness. These guide holes H can be divided into three groups: the first group of guide holes H1 is located in the leeward region of the rear / leeward side of the outer peripheral portion 22, the second group of guide holes H2 is located in the left side region of the outer peripheral portion 22, and the third group of guide holes H3 is located in the right side region of the outer peripheral portion 22. The second group of guide holes H2 and the third group of guide holes H3 are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the connecting plate 2 in the front-to-back direction. Figure 1 As shown, the four support legs of the drone host are symmetrically installed in the corresponding mounting parts in the left and right areas, for example, by threaded connectors. The positions of the mounting parts are offset from the positions of the second set of guide holes H2 and the third set of guide holes H3.

[0047] The connecting plate 2 of this invention can improve aerodynamic characteristics and reduce vibration during flight, as specifically described below. Figure 6 As shown in the side view of the drone, the arrows indicate the direction of flight. During flight, the drone tilts forward at a certain angle, for example, 5 to 15 degrees. Relative to the drone 100, the upper airflow will flow backward through the space between the drone body and the connecting plate 2, passing over the upper side of the connecting plate 2; the lower airflow will flow around the cargo compartment 4 from front to rear, passing under the outer periphery 22 of the connecting plate 2. Due to the different airflow states and paths on the upper and lower sides of the connecting plate, the air pressure flowing above the outer periphery will be greater than the air pressure flowing below it, resulting in a certain downward pressure on the outer periphery. The outer periphery is a structure that extends outward from the center, and it may vibrate when subjected to this downward pressure. Furthermore, components located between the drone body and the connecting plate, such as the drone's support legs, will obstruct the airflow, creating localized vortices and further exacerbating the vibration.

[0048] In this invention, the connecting plate 2 is equipped with three sets of guide holes H1, H2, and H3, allowing air near the guide holes above the outer periphery 22 to flow smoothly downwards, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the leeward, left, and right sides of the outer periphery 22 and weakening its vibration. Furthermore, a second set of guide holes H2 and a third set of guide holes H3 are provided for the left and right sides of the support legs where the drone host is mounted, allowing air above the connecting plate 2 to easily pass through the guide holes H to reach the bottom of the connecting plate 2. This essentially eliminates eddies caused by the obstruction of the support legs, further reducing the vibration of the outer periphery 22.

[0049] In some embodiments, no airflow guide holes are provided in the windward area of ​​the connecting plate 2. For example... Figure 4 As shown, a limiting member 26 for preventing the cargo compartment 4 from moving and a camera 54 (installed at the limiting member mounting part 23 and the camera mounting part 24 respectively) are provided on the lower side of the windward area of ​​the connecting plate 2, which increases the weight of the windward area of ​​the connecting plate 2 and makes it less prone to vibration. Moreover, the absence of a guide hole helps to improve the structural strength of the windward area, thereby reliably installing the camera 54.

[0050] The stand 3 is mounted on the upper side of the outer periphery 22 of the connecting plate 2. The stand 3 has an upper frame formed by multiple (four shown in the figure) crossbars 31 connected end to end. Each crossbar 31 is a cylindrical crossbar with a circular cross-section, so that the contact point with the connecting plate 2 is a line contact rather than a surface contact, and will not significantly block the guide hole H on the connecting plate 2. Moreover, the arc-shaped surface of the crossbar 31 helps the airflow to flow smoothly without significant disturbance.

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown, in the left, right, windward, and leeward regions of the outer periphery 22 of the connecting plate 2, there are solid parts without through holes. These parts are used to install (e.g., via threaded connectors and U-shaped clips) the crossbars 31 that form the upper frame of the stand 3. Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, these crossbars 31 are arranged across the upper side of the guide holes H in the corresponding regions. The width of the crossbars 31 is less than the extension length of the guide holes H, such that a portion of the guide holes H are located on the inner side of the crossbars 31 facing the center, and another portion of the guide holes H are located on the outer side of the crossbars 31 away from the center. Therefore, the airflow can flow along the arcuate surfaces on both sides of the crossbars 31 and pass through the connecting plate 2 from the portions of the guide holes H on both sides, reducing the possible vortices formed on both sides of the crossbars 31, further improving the aerodynamic distribution, and helping to reduce vibration.

[0052] Preferably, each of the first, second, and third groups of guide holes H is configured such that more than 50% of the portion is located on the side of the corresponding crossbar 31 closer to the center 21, and less than 50% but not zero is located on the side of the crossbar 31 farther from the center. Since most of the guide holes H are located on the inner side of the crossbar 31, compared to the case where most of the guide holes H are located on the outer side of the crossbar 31, the installation of the crossbar 31 is more reliable and strengthens the connection plate 2. This is because the overhanging portion of the connection plate 22 located on the outer side of the crossbar 31 is basically solid, with a short extension length, increased strength, and is less prone to vibration.

[0053] Advantageously, the guide hole H1 can be an elongated hole extending along the longitudinal direction, with its length dimension greater than its width dimension, for example, 2-10 times the width dimension. When the crossbar 31 is installed in place, the extension direction of the crossbar 31 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide hole H. This is achieved by setting the centerline direction of the crossbar 31 (…). Figure 3 The dotted line in the diagram, which is also the contact line between the cylindrical crossbar 31 and the connecting plate 2, is located at the length centerline of the guide hole H. Figure 3 On the outside of the double-dotted line (in the diagram), preferably, the distance between the two is between 10-40% of the length of the elongated hole. This allows a larger portion of the guide hole H to be located inside the crossbar 31, while a smaller, but not zero, portion of the guide hole H is located outside the crossbar 31. Thus, the airflow can flow along the arc-shaped surfaces of the inner and outer sides of the crossbar 31 and pass through the guide holes H on both sides, flowing over the connecting plate 2 without forming vortices. Moreover, the installation of the crossbar 31 strengthens the connecting plate 2, significantly reducing vibration on the connecting plate 2. Testing revealed that this configuration resulted in minimal vibration during flight for the drone, balancing the reliability of the landing gear installation with the stability of the drone's flight.

[0054] Back Figure 3 and Figure 4 According to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide holes H on the connecting plate 2 are arranged sequentially along the corresponding edges of the connecting plate 2 in a straight line. A first group of guide holes H1 are arranged equidistantly in a straight line in the leeward region, with two mounting portions for mounting the legs 3 located on the left and right sides of the first group of guide holes H. A second group of guide holes H2 are arranged equidistantly in a straight line in the left region where no mounting portions for the legs are provided. A third group of guide holes H3 are arranged equidistantly in a straight line in the right region where no mounting portions for the legs are provided. These arrangement features of the guide holes H enable the connecting plate 2 to have good strength while possessing vibration damping characteristics. According to other embodiments, the guide holes H may also be arranged in curves of other shapes along the edges of the connecting plate 2, or multiple rows of guide holes H may be formed along each edge.

[0055] also, Figure 3 and Figure 4The diagram also shows elongated, rounded-end guide holes H, whose rounded ends effectively reduce the possibility of the connecting plate 2 breaking at the holes. Each elongated guide hole H extends from near the outer edge of the outer periphery, perpendicular to the outer edge, towards the center. The guide holes H in each group of guide holes H1, H2, and H3 are arranged adjacent to each other along their long sides, thus ensuring good strength of the connecting plate 2. Furthermore, the guide holes H occupy a large area of ​​the outer periphery, promoting airflow. According to other embodiments, the guide holes H may also have other shapes, such as circular, elliptical, or rounded rectangles.

[0056] Each elongated guide hole H preferably has a length of 60-80 mm and a width of 30-40 mm. In addition, 8-15 guide holes H can be opened in the windward area, and 6-12 guide holes can be opened in each of the left and right side areas.

[0057] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the elongated, rounded guide holes H on the connecting plate 2 have a length of 79 mm and a width of 39 mm. Thirteen guide holes H are located in the windward area, and ten are located on each of the left and right sides. Testing on a drone equipped with this connecting plate 2 revealed that the peak-to-peak noise level of the accelerometer installed on the drone 100 was less than 5g, and the noise level of the gyroscope was less than 50° / s, indicating that the drone's vibration was significantly suppressed.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting plate 2 is made of carbon fiber material, thereby making the connecting plate 2 stronger and lighter. The density of the carbon fiber composite material is 1.7 g / cm³. 3 It has a density less than 1 / 4 that of steel and only 1 / 2 that of lightweight aluminum. Furthermore, because carbon fiber materials can be manufactured using molding or autoclave one-piece molding techniques, larger components can be formed in a single step, reducing the number of parts, achieving weight reduction, and ultimately enabling longer driving ranges.

[0059] Cargo compartment installation components

[0060] Figure 5 The cargo compartment mounting assembly 6 of the logistics drone 100 of the present invention is shown, which includes a cargo compartment 4, a landing gear 3 and a connecting plate 2 described above, which are assembled together.

[0061] The cargo compartment 4 can move forward in the horizontal direction via the slide rail 25 set on the lower surface of the connecting plate 2, that is, move towards the aforementioned leeward side, thereby enabling the rapid removal and reloading of the cargo compartment 4.

[0062] like Figure 5As shown, the cargo hold 4 is located directly below the center 21 of the connecting plate 2 in the transport state. The cargo hold 4 itself may not have a top cover, thus the connecting plate 2 acts as a cover for the cargo hold 4, providing a covering function. Two parallel sliding rails 25 are fixed to the lower surface of the connecting plate 2 (see also...). Figure 4 Each slide rail 25 has an L-shaped cross-section, comprising a first section extending downward from the lower surface of the connecting plate 2 and a second section extending horizontally toward each other. The upper edges of the left and right surfaces of the cargo compartment 4 can rest on the upper surfaces of the second sections of each of the two slide rails 25, thereby enabling horizontal movement between the two slide rails 25 parallel to their extending directions. The two slide rails 25 extend beyond the front end of the connecting plate 2 on their front sides, allowing the cargo compartment 4 to slide substantially completely outside the connecting plate 2. At this point, without a top cover, logistics personnel can directly access the interior of the cargo compartment 4.

[0063] like Figure 4 As shown, at least one of the two slide rails 25 is provided with a cargo hold locking mechanism 251 near the leeward side, which is used to prevent the cargo hold 4 from moving forward when it is in the carrying state directly below the connecting plate 2. The connecting plate 2 is provided with a limit member 26 on its rear outer periphery 22, which is used to prevent the cargo hold 4 from moving backward when it is in the carrying state. Thus, when the cargo hold 4 is in the carrying state below the connecting plate 2, it can be firmly connected to the connecting plate 2, and then to the legs 3.

[0064] The tripod 3 is formed as a frame structure that spatially surrounds the connecting plate 2 and the cargo compartment 4. The tripod 3 can be divided into an upper frame, a lower frame, and lateral connecting rods on the sides, which can protect the cargo compartment 4 from direct impact from at least all directions. In addition, the frame structure of the tripod 3 can prevent the rotor blades of the UAV 100 from getting too close to the ground, reduce the ground effect during takeoff, and also dissipate and absorb the impact energy generated when the UAV 100 lands.

[0065] The upper frame of the tripod 3 is formed by connecting four upper crossbars 31 end to end into a rectangle. Each upper crossbar 31 is fixed to the connecting plate 2 by two U-shaped clips, for example, it can be installed on its upper surface. Figure 5As shown, the upper frame is mounted to the left side of the connecting plate 2 at two first mounting parts 27 using U-shaped clips, to the right side of the connecting plate 2 at two second mounting parts 28 using U-shaped clips, to the leeward side of the connecting plate 2 at two third mounting parts 29 located on both sides of the first set of guide holes H1 using U-shaped clips, and to the windward side of the connecting plate 2 at two fourth mounting parts 30 using U-shaped clips. These eight U-shaped clips securely connect the leg 3 to the upper side of the outer periphery 22 of the connecting plate 2, further enhancing the rigidity, strength, and stability of the entire leg 3. Furthermore, the upper crossbar 31 is mounted above the aforementioned guide holes H, such that a larger portion of each guide hole H is located on the inner side of the crossbar 31, and a smaller but not zero portion is located on the outer side of the crossbar 31. This allows airflow to pass through the connecting plate 2 primarily from the inner side of the crossbar 31, while also passing through the connecting plate 2 from the outer side of the crossbar 31. The tripod 3 also has one U-shaped bend 32 on each side, a rear crossbar 34 on the rear side, and a quick-opening crossbar 35 on the front side. The side U-shaped bends 32 have a horizontal section for contacting the ground and bent sections connecting both ends of the horizontal section. The bent sections extend upwards from the ends of the horizontal sections, then bend towards the connecting plate 2 (e.g., bent 120° using a digital bending process) and finally extend to the connecting plate 2, thereby being fixedly connected to the upper crossbar 31. The bends 33 of the U-shaped bends 32 provide better cushioning for the tripod 3. Additionally, the rear crossbar 34, located slightly above the horizontal section of the U-shaped bends 32, is fixedly connected to two U-shaped bends 32 on the rear side of the cargo compartment 4. The quick-opening crossbar 35, located slightly above the horizontal section of the U-shaped bends 32, connects two U-shaped bends 32 on the front side of the cargo compartment 4. Thus, the bent sections of the two U-shaped bends 32 form the lateral connecting rods of the tripod 3, and the horizontal sections of the two U-shaped bends 32 together with the rear crossbar 34 and the quick-opening crossbar 35 form the lower frame of the tripod 3.

[0066] The quick-opening crossbar 35 is located at the rear / leeward side of cargo compartment 4. It can be quickly opened and locked, thereby assisting in the quick assembly and disassembly of cargo compartment 4.

[0067] like Figure 5As shown, the quick-opening crossbar 35 has a pivoting assembly 351 at one end (pivoting end) and a locking assembly 352 at the other end (movable end). The locking assembly 352 is a mechanism that allows for easy disconnection and reconnection of the corresponding end of the quick-opening crossbar 35 to the corresponding lateral link 32. When logistics personnel need to load goods into the cargo compartment 4, they first open the locking assembly 352, causing the quick-opening crossbar 35 to rotate to the open position via the pivoting assembly 351 around the corresponding lateral link. This allows logistics personnel to take the cargo compartment 4 from the front and pull it horizontally forward from below the connecting plate 2, and then place the goods into the cargo compartment 4 from above. Afterward, logistics personnel can push the cargo compartment 4 back below the connecting plate 2 and secure it, then rotate the quick-opening crossbar 35 back to the connected position and lock it in place with the locking assembly 352, thus completing the loading process.

[0068] Some components of the cargo hold mounting assembly 6 according to the invention are preferably made of the following materials: The upper crossbar 31, the U-shaped bend 32, and the rear crossbar 34 can be made of lined aluminum alloy tubing to strengthen the legs 3. The quick-opening crossbar 35 can be made of carbon fiber to ensure strength and extend its lifespan during opening and closing. The connecting plate 2, as described above, can be made of carbon fiber to reduce weight and ensure strength. The slide rail 25 fixed to the connecting plate 2 can be made of aluminum alloy, thereby further strengthening and reinforcing the connecting plate 2.

[0069] Sensor placement

[0070] Re-reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 This illustrates the sensor arrangement of a logistics drone 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sensors include a lidar 51, a GPS antenna 52, a 5G antenna 53, and a camera 54.

[0071] The lidar 51 is positioned at the center of the top of the drone body, above the rest of the drone body and the propeller blades, i.e., at the very top of the drone 100. This top-mounted lidar 51 reduces interference from obstacles generated by the drone 100 itself, improves detection capabilities, and lowers operating costs. The lidar 51 can have a two-axis gimbal structure, allowing it to rotate in the same direction as the drone 100's real-time flight path and promptly detect obstacles within specified distances in various horizontal directions.

[0072] The GPS antenna 52 is positioned on the left or right side of the drone's main body and is fixedly mounted upwards and cannot be folded. Because the GPS antenna 52 is positioned close to the side of the drone's main body, its fixed mounting will not interfere with the movement of other mechanical components. This configuration effectively prevents flight accidents caused by forgetting to erect the GPS antenna or by improper installation, and also reduces takeoff preparation time, making it convenient and efficient.

[0073] The 5G antenna 53 is positioned below the arm of the drone 100 and extends vertically downwards. This configuration allows the 5G antenna 53 to receive radio frequency signals from ground base stations more effectively during high-altitude flight, thereby improving signal stability.

[0074] Camera 54 has a three-axis gimbal and is mounted on the front side of connecting plate 2 via connectors and damping balls. Mounted on the windward side, in front of cargo compartment 4, camera 54 can capture images from the front. Due to the aforementioned airflow guide holes on connecting plate 2, vibration is relatively small, making the shooting more stable. Furthermore, to further stabilize the images captured by camera 54, damping balls are used to connect the gimbal to connecting plate 2. These damping balls are filled with damping fluid; utilizing the viscous damping properties of the fluid, the vibration energy of instantaneous impacts is dissipated as much as possible, thereby greatly improving the image quality.

[0075] This document describes in detail several exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and alterations can be made to the above specific embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, and various technical features and structures proposed in the present invention can be combined without exceeding the protection scope of the present invention, which is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connecting plate with flow guide holes for connecting the main unit and cargo compartment of a logistics drone, the connecting plate comprising: The central section is used to cover the opening of the cargo hold; The outer perimeter extends outward from the center and includes a windward area, a left-side area, a right-side area, and a leeward area. A first set of through-flow holes is provided in the leeward area; A second set of through-holes is provided in the left-side area; A third set of through-holes is provided in the right-side area, which is symmetrical to the second set of through-holes about the longitudinal center line of the connecting plate. A first mounting part, offset from the second set of guide holes, is provided in the left area for mounting the first leg of the drone main unit; A second mounting section, offset from the third set of air guide holes, is provided in the right-side area. This section is used to symmetrically mount the second leg of the drone main unit to the first leg. Specifically, no guide holes are installed in the windward area of ​​the outer perimeter. The connecting plate is also used to mount the tripod; a third mounting part is provided in the leeward area, offset from the first set of air guide holes, and a fourth mounting part is provided in the windward area; the first, second, third, and fourth mounting parts are used to mount the upper frame of the tripod, and each air guide hole in the first, second, and third sets is configured such that a portion is located on the side of the upper frame closer to the center, and another portion is located on the side of the upper frame farther from the center. The upper frame of the tripod is formed by connecting crossbars installed in the windward, left, right and leeward areas, and the crossbars are cylindrical; each of the first, second and third groups of guide holes is an elongated hole.

2. The connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the first, second, and third groups of guide holes is configured such that more than 50% of the portion is located on the side of the upper frame closer to the center, and less than 50% but not zero portion is located on the side of the upper frame farther from the center.

3. The connecting plate according to claim 2, wherein, The positions of the first, second, and third mounting parts are configured such that: The extension direction of the crossbars located in the left, right, and leeward regions is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each of the corresponding first, second, and third groups of guide holes, and the center line of the crossbars located in the left, right, and leeward regions is located outside the longitudinal center line of each of the corresponding first, second, and third groups of guide holes.

4. The connecting plate according to claim 3, wherein, The distance between the contact line between the crossbar and the connecting plate and the length centerline of the corresponding guide hole is 10-40% of the length of the elongated hole.

5. The connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein, The first set of guide holes is arranged equidistantly along a straight line in the leeward region, and the two third mounting parts are located on the left and right sides of the first set of guide holes; the second set of guide holes is arranged equidistantly along a straight line in the left region where the first mounting part is not provided; the third set of guide holes is arranged equidistantly along a straight line in the right region where the second mounting part is not provided.

6. The connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the aforementioned guide holes is an elongated hole with rounded ends, and the longitudinal axis of each of the aforementioned guide holes is perpendicular to the outer edge of the outer periphery to which the guide hole is closest, and the length of the elongated hole is 2 to 10 times its width.

7. The connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein, The first group of guide holes includes 8 to 15 guide holes, while the second and third groups of guide holes each include 6 to 12 guide holes.

8. The connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting plate is made of carbon fiber material.

9. A logistics drone, comprising a drone main unit, landing gear, a cargo compartment, and a connecting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The support legs of the drone host are symmetrically mounted above the left and right regions of the outer periphery of the connecting plate. The cargo compartment is detachably mounted below the center of the connecting plate. The upper frame of the tripod is fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the connecting plate.

10. The logistics drone according to claim 9, wherein, The larger portion of each of the first, second, and third groups of guide holes is located on the side of the upper frame closer to the center, while the smaller portion is located on the side of the upper frame farther from the center.

11. The logistics drone according to claim 9, wherein, The cargo compartment can slide out from the center of the corresponding connecting plate toward the leeward side. The lower frame of the tripod has a quick-opening crossbar on the leeward side. One end of the quick-opening crossbar is pivotally fixed to a lateral link, and the other end of the quick-opening crossbar is lockably fixed to another lateral link.

12. The logistics drone according to claim 9, wherein, The drone has a lidar, a GPS antenna, a 5G antenna, and a camera. The lidar is installed on the top of the main body of the drone host, the GPS antenna is installed on the side of the main body of the drone host, the 5G antenna is installed below the arm of the drone host and extends vertically downward, and the camera is installed in the windward area of ​​the connecting plate.

13. The logistics drone according to claim 9, wherein, The GPS antenna is fixed to the main body of the UAV host in a non-foldable manner.

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