A wind-blown type drone recovery system and method

Abstract

This invention discloses a wind-blown drone recovery system and method, comprising a wind-blown umbrella, a blower, and an energy-absorbing and capturing device. The wind-blown umbrella includes a fixedly connected canopy and multiple parachute lines, with the ends of the parachute lines away from the canopy used to fix the canopy. The blower is angle-adjustably positioned towards the canopy to guide and adjust the wind-blown umbrella to the optimal recovery angle, and can continuously and directionally blow air onto the canopy to fill it with air, forming an elastic air cushion. The energy-absorbing and capturing device includes a capture bag fixedly mounted on the canopy. This wind-blown drone recovery system can be used for drone recovery. Because the blower's angle is adjustable, it can guide and adjust the wind-blown umbrella to the optimal recovery angle according to the drone's flight path. Furthermore, by reducing the airflow, the canopy containing the captured drone can slowly descend to the ground, facilitating drone recovery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of drone landing and recovery technology, and in particular to a wind-blown drone recovery system and method. Background Technology

[0002] The fundamental task of drones is to fly. The weight of the airframe that is not conducive to flight is dirty weight and dead weight. Weight reduction has always been the direction of efforts in aerospace and even the entire anti-gravity field.

[0003] However, for existing large and medium-sized fixed-wing UAVs, whether they have taxiing devices for assisted landing sites or parachute systems for field environments (such as the UAV wheeled landing gear and UAV disclosed in patent application number 202320064633.3), the structural weight of their associated landing aids exceeds 10% of the total weight of the aircraft. Furthermore, the design of critical parts of the airframe must prioritize and give way to the space occupied by the complex landing aid and recovery system, as well as the locations of its deployment and release openings. This unnecessary and excessive weight during continuous flight not only severely restricts the rational allocation of fuel, equipment, and other payloads for the UAV, but also seriously affects the overall optimization design of the UAV, becoming a serious constraint and bottleneck hindering and limiting the fundamental mission and basic performance of UAVs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned technical deficiencies and propose a wind-blown UAV recovery system and method. This invention addresses the technical problem that in the prior art, UAVs are recovered by setting up landing aids on them. However, the landing aids typically account for more than 10% of the total weight of the UAV, making them a serious constraint and bottleneck that hinders and limits the fundamental mission and basic performance of UAVs.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention provides a wind-driven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recovery system, comprising:

[0006] A wind-blown umbrella includes a fixedly connected canopy and multiple umbrella cords, wherein the ends of the umbrella cords away from the canopy are used to secure the canopy.

[0007] A blower, angle-adjustable and positioned toward the canopy, guides and adjusts the blower umbrella to rise to the optimal retraction angle, and continuously blows air onto the canopy in a directional manner to fill it with air and form a flexible blower cushion.

[0008] An energy-absorbing and capturing device includes a capturing bag fixedly mounted on the canopy, with the opening of the capturing bag facing outward from the canopy.

[0009] Furthermore, the energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes an inflatable bag fixedly disposed inside the capturing bag, the inflatable bag being filled with compressed air.

[0010] Furthermore, the energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes a targeting spherical cap fixedly disposed at the opening of the inflatable bag.

[0011] Furthermore, the energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes an inner liner pad fixedly disposed on the inner sidewall of the inflatable bag.

[0012] Furthermore, the energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes a plurality of energy-absorbing spheres disposed inside the inflatable bag.

[0013] Furthermore, the wind-blown drone recovery system also includes a cushioning air cushion, which is placed on the ground below the canopy.

[0014] Furthermore, the wind-blown UAV recovery system also includes a support vehicle or support vessel, which includes the support vehicle or support vessel body and several extended cantilever arms. The blower is fixedly installed on the support vehicle or support vessel, and the end of the parachute rope away from the canopy is fixedly connected to the extended cantilever arms.

[0015] Furthermore, the wind-blown drone recovery system also includes several limiting ropes, one end of which is fixedly connected to the center of the capture bag, and the other end is fixedly connected to the ground on one side of the back of the canopy.

[0016] The technical solution of the present invention also provides a wind-blown drone recovery method, applicable to the aforementioned wind-blown drone recovery system, which includes the following steps:

[0017] In the recycling area, the blower is used to raise the wind turbine umbrella and adjust it to the optimal recycling angle;

[0018] Send a recall command to the drone to be recovered, so that the drone can fly along the set route and actively glide down to slow down until it shuts down and coasts.

[0019] After gliding, the drone crashes into the parachute and falls into the capture bag, which then captures the drone.

[0020] The airflow of the blower is gradually reduced so that the canopy containing the drone descends, thereby completing the recovery of the drone.

[0021] Furthermore, when capturing the drone, the blowing intensity of the blower is adjusted as needed to adjust the elastic thrust of the canopy on the drone in real time, so as to ensure that the canopy has sufficient elastic thrust to buffer and offset the kinetic energy of the drone, thereby achieving successful capture of the drone.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention include:

[0023] The wind-blown UAV recovery system overcomes the drawbacks of existing medium and large UAVs that require onboard landing aids, resulting in increased dirt and dead weight. It simplifies and optimizes the overall UAV structure, enabling UAVs to better and more effectively perform their fundamental flight mission. Furthermore, because the blower's angle and airflow intensity are adjustable, it can guide and adjust the wind-blown canopy to the optimal recovery angle based on the UAV's flight path. It can also continuously and directionally blow air onto the canopy crown, filling it with air to form a flexible air cushion. Moreover, by reducing the airflow, the canopy crown containing the captured UAV can slowly descend to the ground, facilitating the UAV recovery process. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the wind-blown UAV recovery system provided by the present invention in operation on land;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the energy-absorbing and capturing device in this embodiment;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the wind-blown UAV recovery system provided by the present invention in operation at sea. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0028] This invention provides a wind-blown type drone recovery system, the structure of which is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, the device includes a wind-blown umbrella 1, a blower 2, and an energy-absorbing and capturing device 3. The wind-blown umbrella 1 includes a fixedly connected canopy 11 and multiple umbrella lines 12, with the ends of the umbrella lines 12 away from the canopy 11 used to fix the canopy 11. The blower 2 is angle-adjustable and positioned towards the canopy 11 to guide and adjust the wind-blown umbrella 1 to the optimal recovery angle, and can continuously and directionally blow air onto the canopy 11 to fill it with air and form an elastic air cushion. The central axes of the canopy 11 and the blower 2 are always on the same straight line to form a virtual recovery ray a from the ground to the sky. The energy-absorbing and capturing device 3 includes a capturing bag 31 fixedly mounted on the canopy 11. The opening of the capturing bag 31 faces outward from the canopy 11. Specifically, the capturing bag 31 is located at the center of the canopy 11. The capturing bag 31 is a conical capturing bag, and its length extends along the recovery ray a.

[0029] The wind-blown UAV recovery system can be used for the recovery of UAV 100, overcoming the shortcomings of existing medium and large UAVs that require onboard landing aids, resulting in dirt and dead weight. It helps to simplify and optimize the overall structure of the UAV, enabling the UAV to perform its fundamental flight mission more effectively. Furthermore, since the angle and blowing intensity of the blower 2 are adjustable, it can guide and adjust the wind-blown umbrella 1 to the optimal recovery angle according to the flight path of the UAV to be recovered, and can continuously and directionally blow air onto the canopy 11 to fill the canopy 11 with air, forming an elastic wind-blown air cushion, which acts like a huge air spring, providing support, cushioning, and braking during the UAV recovery process. Moreover, by reducing the air volume, the canopy 11, which captures the UAV 100, can slowly descend to the ground, thus facilitating the recovery of the UAV 100.

[0030] To further reduce the kinetic energy of the drone 100 during capture, in a preferred embodiment, the energy-absorbing capture device 3 further includes an inflatable bag 32 fixedly disposed inside the capture bag 31, the inflatable bag 32 being filled with compressed air. Specifically, to facilitate inflation of the inflatable bag 32, the top of the inflatable bag 32 can protrude beyond the outside of the capture bag 31 and be fitted with an inflation / deflation valve 30.

[0031] Specifically, in order to reduce the kinetic energy of the drone 100 during capture, as a preferred embodiment, the energy-absorbing capture device 3 further includes a targeting crown 33 fixedly disposed at the opening of the inflatable bag 32. The targeting crown 33 is an easy target. Specifically, the targeting crown 33 is integrally formed with the inflatable bag 32, and the targeting crown 33 protrudes from the canopy surface of the canopy 11.

[0032] It is understandable that by filling the air bag 32 with compressed air, after the target crown 33 and the air bag 32 are ruptured due to the impact of the drone 100, the compressed air inside the air bag 32 can blow and slow down the incoming drone.

[0033] like Figure 2 The diagram shown is a partial cross-sectional view of the energy-absorbing and capturing device 3 in this embodiment. In order to further counteract the speed or kinetic energy of the drone 100, as a preferred embodiment, the energy-absorbing and capturing device 3 also includes an inner liner 34 fixedly disposed on the inner side wall of the inflatable bag 32, and a plurality of energy-absorbing spheres 35 disposed inside the capturing bag 31.

[0034] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 or Figure 3To prevent the drone 100 from being damaged when the canopy 11 is lowered to the ground, in a preferred embodiment, the wind-blown drone recovery system further includes a cushioning air cushion 4, which is disposed on the ground below the canopy 11.

[0035] To facilitate the inflation of the cushioning air cushion 4 and the air bag 32, the wind-blown UAV recovery system also includes an inflation device 7, which can be an air compressor.

[0036] To facilitate the transportation of the wind-blown umbrella 1 and the blower 2 to the designated drone recovery area, in a preferred embodiment, the wind-blown drone recovery system further includes a support vehicle or support boat 5. The support vehicle or support boat 5 includes a support vehicle or support boat body 51 and several extension arms 52. The blower 2 is fixedly mounted on the support vehicle or support boat 51, and the end of the parachute rope 12 away from the parachute crown 11 is fixedly connected to the extension arms 52.

[0037] In order to keep the capture bag 31 in the extended state to facilitate the capture of the drone 100, in a preferred embodiment, the wind-blown drone recovery system also includes several limiting ropes 6. One end of each limiting rope 6 is fixedly connected to the center of the capture bag 31, and the other end is fixedly connected to the ground on the back side of the canopy 11. Specifically, the limiting ropes 6 and the parachute ropes 12 are combined and fixedly connected to the extension arm 52.

[0038] The present invention also provides a method for recovering a wind-driven drone, applicable to the aforementioned wind-driven drone recovery system, comprising the following steps:

[0039] (1) In the recovery area, the blower 2 is used to raise the wind turbine umbrella 1 and adjust it to the optimal recovery angle, specifically:

[0040] Park the vehicle or boat in the recovery area according to the favorable recovery position of the UAV 100, and deploy the extended cantilever 52.

[0041] The far end of the paracord 12 and the limiting pull rope 6 is fixedly connected to the extension cantilever 52, and the paracord 12 is straightened.

[0042] Inflate the air bag 32 and the cushioning air pad 4 with air;

[0043] Turn on the blower 2 to make the canopy 11 unfold and rise. The vertical component of the blowing force of the blower 2 on the canopy 11 is the lift force of the canopy 11.

[0044] Adjust the blowing intensity of the blower 2 to guide the canopy 11 upward to the optimal recovery angle, so that the central axis of the blower 2 and the canopy 11 coincides with the preset recovery ray a;

[0045] (2) A recall command is issued to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 100 to be recovered, so that the UAV flies along the set route and actively decelerates until it shuts down and taxis, with the taxiing direction coinciding with the recovery ray a. Specifically,

[0046] The programmable control system on the support vehicle or support vessel 5 can be used to send recall commands and recovery coordinates to the unmanned aerial vehicle 100 to be recovered via the programmable control antenna as needed.

[0047] The drone 100 is recalled and flies back along a set route, the end of which is a straight line that coincides with the recovery ray a.

[0048] The drone 100, which flies to the end of the flight path, automatically shuts down and glides, and crashes into the center of the target spherical cap 33 at the lowest flight speed;

[0049] (3) After gliding, the drone 100 hits the parachute and falls into the capture bag 31, which captures the drone 100. Specifically,

[0050] The target spherical crown 33 cracks upon impact, and the compressed air inside the air bag 32 generates a reverse blowing effect to decelerate the incoming drone 100.

[0051] The drone 100 rushes into the inflatable bag 32 by inertia and impacts the inner liner 34 and the energy-absorbing ball block 35, thereby canceling out part of the drone 100's flight kinetic energy.

[0052] The rupture of the target spherical cap 33 causes the capture bag 31 to collapse rapidly under the action of depressurization and the wind force of the outer blower, thereby entangled and wrapped the drone 100;

[0053] The remaining kinetic energy of the drone 100 is transferred to the canopy 11 through the capture bag 31. The blower 2 does work on the elastic thrust of the canopy 11 to counteract and cancel out the kinetic energy of the drone 100.

[0054] During this process, the blowing intensity of the blower 2 can be adjusted as needed to adjust the elastic thrust of the canopy 11 on the drone in real time, so as to ensure that the canopy 11 has sufficient elastic thrust to buffer and offset the kinetic energy of the drone 100, thereby avoiding recovery damage and achieving successful capture of the drone 100, which has a wide range of applicability; specifically, the blowing intensity of the blower 2 can be adjusted by changing its power.

[0055] (4) The airflow of the blower 2 is gradually reduced so that the canopy 11 containing the captured drone 100 descends, thereby completing the recovery of the drone 100. Specifically,

[0056] By gradually reducing the blowing intensity of the blower 2, the canopy 11 loses wind support and lands on the buffer air cushion 4 along with the drone 100, thus completing the drone recovery operation.

[0057] In order to utilize natural wind to assist in the recovery of the drone 100, in a preferred embodiment, when the wind-blown umbrella 1 is at the optimal recovery angle, the wind-blown umbrella 1 unfolds against the wind, and the drone 100 to be recovered glides against the wind.

[0058] Understandably, by setting the wind-blown umbrella 1 to the optimal recovery angle, the wind-blown umbrella 1 unfolds against the wind, and the drone 100 to be recovered glides against the wind. On the one hand, it can use the external natural wind force to slow down the drone 100 to be recovered, thereby reducing the impact caused by the recovery of the drone 100; on the other hand, it can use the natural wind force to blow the umbrella crown 11 in a directional and continuous manner, thereby reducing the blowing intensity of the blower 2; at the same time, it can also avoid crosswinds interfering with the drone recovery operation.

[0059] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, the following is combined with... Figure 1 - Figure 3 The working principle of this solution will be explained in detail:

[0060] (1) In the recovery area, the blower 2 is used to raise the wind turbine umbrella 1 and adjust it to the optimal recovery angle, specifically:

[0061] During drone recovery, park the vehicle or boat in the recovery area according to the favorable recovery position of the drone 100, and deploy the extension arm 52; fix the far end of the parachute rope 12 and the limiting pull rope 6 to the extension arm 52, and straighten the parachute rope 12; inflate the capture bag 31 and the cushioning air cushion 4 using the inflation device 7; turn on the blower 2 to make the canopy 11 unfold and rise; adjust the blower strength of the blower 2 to guide the canopy 11 to rise to the optimal recovery angle, so that the central axis of the blower 2 and the canopy 11 coincides with the preset recovery ray a;

[0062] (2) A recall command is issued to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 100 to be recovered, so that the UAV flies along the set route and actively decelerates until it shuts down and taxis, with the taxiing direction coinciding with the recovery ray a. Specifically,

[0063] The programmable control system of the support vehicle or support vessel 5 is used to send recall commands and recovery coordinates to the unmanned aerial vehicle 100 to be recovered via the programmable control antenna as needed; the unmanned aerial vehicle 100 is recalled and flies along the set route, the end of which is a straight line that coincides with the recovery ray a; the unmanned aerial vehicle 100 automatically shuts down and glides when it reaches the end of the route, and crashes into the center of the target spherical crown 33 at the minimum flight speed;

[0064] (3) After gliding, the drone 100 hits the parachute and falls into the capture bag 31, which captures the drone 100. Specifically,

[0065] The target spherical crown 33 cracks upon impact, and the compressed air inside the inflatable bag 32 decelerates the incoming drone 100 by blowing it in the opposite direction. The drone 100 rushes into the inflatable bag 32 by inertia and impacts the inner liner 34 and the energy-absorbing sphere 35, thus partially canceling out the drone 100's flight kinetic energy. The cracked target spherical crown 33 causes the capture bag 31 to collapse rapidly under the action of depressurization and the wind force of the outer blower, thereby wrapping and encasing the drone 100. The remaining kinetic energy of the drone 100 is transferred to the canopy 11 through the capture bag 31, and counteracts and cancels out the elastic thrust of the canopy 11.

[0066] During this process, the blowing intensity of the blower 2 can be adjusted as needed to adjust the elastic thrust of the canopy 11 in real time, so as to ensure that the canopy 11 has sufficient elastic thrust to buffer and offset the kinetic energy of the drone 100, thereby avoiding recovery damage and enabling successful capture of drones 100 of different sizes and weights, with wide applicability.

[0067] (4) The airflow of the blower 2 is gradually reduced so that the canopy 11 containing the captured drone 100 descends, thereby completing the recovery of the drone 100. Specifically,

[0068] By gradually reducing the blowing intensity of the blower 2, the canopy 11 loses wind support and lands on the buffer air cushion 4 along with the drone 100, thus completing the drone recovery operation.

[0069] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wind-blown type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recovery system, characterized in that, include: A wind-blown umbrella includes a fixedly connected canopy and multiple umbrella cords, wherein the ends of the umbrella cords away from the canopy are used to secure the canopy. A blower, angle-adjustable and positioned toward the canopy, guides and adjusts the blower umbrella to rise to the optimal retraction angle, and continuously blows air onto the canopy in a directional manner to fill it with air and form a flexible blower cushion. An energy-absorbing and capturing device includes a capturing bag fixedly mounted on the canopy, with the opening of the capturing bag facing outward from the canopy; When capturing a drone, the blowing intensity of the blower is adjusted as needed to adjust the elastic thrust of the canopy on the drone in real time, so as to ensure that the canopy has sufficient elastic thrust to buffer and offset the kinetic energy of the drone, thereby achieving successful capture of the drone. The energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes an inflatable bag fixedly disposed inside the capturing bag, the inflatable bag being filled with compressed air; The energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes a target spherical cap that is fixedly installed at the opening of the inflatable bag; The targeting spherical crown is integrally formed with the inflatable bag, and the targeting spherical crown protrudes from the canopy surface of the umbrella crown.

2. The wind-blown type UAV recovery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes an inner liner pad that is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the inflatable bag.

3. The wind-blown type UAV recovery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy-absorbing and capturing device also includes multiple energy-absorbing spheres disposed inside the inflatable bag.

4. The wind-blown type UAV recovery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a cushioning air cushion, which is placed on the ground below the canopy.

5. The wind-blown type UAV recovery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a support vehicle or support vessel, which includes the support vehicle or support vessel body and several extension arms. The blower is fixedly installed on the support vehicle or support vessel, and the end of the parachute rope away from the parachute crown is fixedly connected to the extension arms.

6. The wind-blown type UAV recovery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes several limiting pull ropes, one end of which is fixedly connected to the center of the capture bag, and the other end is fixedly connected to the ground on one side of the back of the umbrella crown.

7. A method for recovering a wind-driven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), applicable to the wind-driven UAV recovery system described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: In the recycling area, the blower is used to raise the wind turbine umbrella and adjust it to the optimal recycling angle; Send a recall command to the drone to be recovered, so that the drone can fly along the set route and actively glide down to slow down until it shuts down and coasts. After gliding, the drone crashes into the parachute and falls into the capture bag, which then captures the drone. The airflow of the blower is gradually reduced so that the canopy containing the drone descends, thereby completing the recovery of the drone.

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