An emergency response device integrated lighting apparatus for a drone

Abstract

The application discloses an emergency response equipment integrated lighting device for a UAV, and relates to the technical field of emergency response. The device comprises an airborne light source assembly for lighting, an airborne power management assembly connected with the airborne light source assembly and used for providing power supply for the airborne light source assembly, an airborne tether assembly connected with the airborne power management assembly and used for acquiring power supply of a tether cable and transmitting the power supply to the airborne power management assembly, a tension detection assembly used for detecting the tension of the tether cable, a communication assembly connected with the tension detection assembly in signal and used for receiving the tension of the tether cable and controlling the length of the tether cable, and the communication assembly is connected with the airborne light source assembly and used for controlling the brightness of the lighting. The application improves the speed of emergency response lighting.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of emergency response, in particular to a lighting device integrated with emergency response equipment for a UAV. BACKGROUND

[0002] In rescue, fire fighting and some emergency scenes, it is a very good choice to use a UAV to carry some emergency response equipment for rescue and emergency. At present, the emergency light source is usually directly installed under the UAV body or other mounting points. This way can quickly illuminate the required area by using the high-altitude hovering and moving ability of the UAV. Some emergency light sources have batteries and can work relatively independently, but they are limited by battery capacity and need to be frequently replaced to maintain lighting in long-term emergency lighting tasks. If the emergency light source does not have a battery, the on-site staff needs to disassemble and assemble the UAV to connect the emergency light source to the UAV power supply to achieve emergency lighting.

[0003] For the emergency light source with a battery, the limited battery capacity makes it difficult to continuously illuminate for a long time. High-frequency battery replacement not only increases the complexity and workload of the operation, but also may delay the valuable time of emergency rescue during the replacement process, affecting the efficiency of rescue. For the emergency light source without a battery, the requirement of disassembling and assembling the UAV on site is too complicated, which requires a high level of technical skills and operational proficiency of the staff. In addition, in an emergency scene, the disassembly and assembly process is time-consuming and laborious, which makes it difficult to provide timely and effective lighting support, bringing many inconveniences to emergency rescue work. SUMMARY

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide a lighting device integrated with emergency response equipment for a UAV to solve the problems raised in the background.

[0005] The lighting device integrated with emergency response equipment for a UAV provided by the present application adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] An on-board light source assembly for illumination;

[0007] An on-board power management assembly connected with the on-board light source assembly for providing power supply for the on-board light source assembly;

[0008] An on-board tethering assembly connected with the on-board power management assembly for obtaining power supply of the tethering cable and transmitting it to the on-board power management assembly;

[0009] A tension detection assembly for detecting the tension of the tethering cable;

[0010] A communication assembly connected with the tension detection assembly for receiving the tension of the tethering cable and controlling the length of the adjustment cable, and connected with the on-board light source assembly for controlling the illumination brightness.

[0011] Preferably, the airborne light source assembly includes an illumination device, a brightness controller, and a current detection assembly;

[0012] The brightness controller is connected to the lighting device. According to the preset brightness level, it finds the corresponding current according to the preset current-brightness level lookup table and records it as the standard current.

[0013] The brightness controller is connected to the current detection component, which is used to detect the current in the circuit and obtain the real-time current.

[0014] The brightness controller controls the adjustment current until the real-time current matches the standard current.

[0015] The lighting device is used for illumination.

[0016] Preferably, the airborne power management component includes a power conversion component, a power detection component, a fuse switch, and an alarm.

[0017] The power conversion component is connected to the airborne tethering component and is used to receive the power from the tethering cable and convert it into the power of the mechanical light source component;

[0018] The power detection component is connected to the airborne tethering component and is used to detect whether the power supply of the tethering cable is within a preset normal range;

[0019] If the condition is outside the preset normal range, the safety switch will be turned off to cut off the power supply to the mooring cable, and the alarm will be activated.

[0020] If within the preset normal range, the power supply to the tethered cable will be converted to the power supply to the mechanical light source assembly.

[0021] Preferably, the power conversion assembly includes a power converter, a first connector, and a second connector;

[0022] The power converter is used to convert the power supply of the tethered cable into the power supply of the mechanical light source assembly.

[0023] The first connector is connected to the power converter and is used to receive the converted power and distribute it to the lighting device;

[0024] The second connector connects to the existing tether cable socket on the tethered drone, receives the converted power, and distributes it to the drone.

[0025] Preferably, the power converter includes a first DC chopper and a second DC chopper;

[0026] The first DC chopper is connected to the mooring cable to obtain electrical energy provided by the mooring cable;

[0027] The second DC chopper is connected to the first DC chopper and is used to convert the first voltage converted by the first DC chopper to obtain a second voltage adapted to the tethered UAV, and to provide power to the second connector according to the second voltage.

[0028] Preferably, the airborne tethering assembly includes a cable fixing clip and a tethering cable interface;

[0029] The cable fixing clip is used to secure the tethered cable;

[0030] The tethered cable interface is used to receive power transmitted by the tethered cable.

[0031] Preferably, the tensile force detection component includes a tensile force sensor and a tensile force controller;

[0032] The tension sensor is used to detect the tension of the tether cable on the drone;

[0033] The tension controller is connected to the tension sensor signal and is used to receive the tension of the tether cable on the drone and determine whether the tension of the tether cable on the drone exceeds a preset tension value.

[0034] If the tension exceeds the preset value, a control signal is generated and transmitted to the communication component.

[0035] Preferably, the communication component includes a transmitting module, a first receiving module, a second receiving module, and a tethered cable controller;

[0036] The transmitting module and the first receiving module are both installed on the drone, and the second receiving module is installed on the tethered cable controller;

[0037] The transmitting module is connected to the tension controller signal and is used to receive the control signal and send it to the second receiving module;

[0038] The second receiving module is signal-connected to the transmitting module and is used to receive the control signal and transmit the control signal to the tether cable controller;

[0039] The tethered cable controller is signal-connected to the receiving module and is used to receive the control signal and control the cable retraction and extension actions according to the control signal.

[0040] The first receiving module is signal-connected to the airborne light source assembly and is used to control the lighting brightness.

[0041] Preferably, the first receiving module is signal-connected to the brightness controller. The first receiving module collects the brightness signal set by the user and transmits the brightness signal to the brightness controller. The brightness controller controls the brightness of the lighting device according to the brightness signal.

[0042] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0043] 1. This solution utilizes an airborne light source component, an airborne power management component, an airborne tethering component, a tensile testing component, and a communication component to quickly upgrade ordinary tethered drones into emergency response drones with integrated lighting functions. Furthermore, all five components of this solution employ miniaturized parts and universal interfaces, making installation simple and convenient, and greatly improving the efficiency of the conversion.

[0044] 2. Not only can it ensure the normal operation of tethered drones, but it can also provide power to lighting equipment. This effectively solves the power supply problem for lighting equipment, achieving a more sustainable power supply. The first connector is compatible with various lighting devices; in emergency situations, assembly can be completed simply by plugging and unplugging. This effectively saves valuable time in emergency rescue and improves rescue efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0045] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the module connection of an embodiment of a lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to the present invention.

[0046] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the tethered cable connection of an embodiment of a lighting device integrated into an emergency response device for unmanned aerial vehicles according to the present invention.

[0047] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the power converter connection of an embodiment of the lighting device integrated into an emergency response device for unmanned aerial vehicles according to the present invention.

[0048] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the alarm and the safety switch in an embodiment of the lighting device integrated into an emergency response device for unmanned aerial vehicles according to the present invention.

[0049] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a power converter in an embodiment of an emergency response device integrated for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to the present invention.

[0050] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the improved connection of an embodiment of a lighting device integrated into an emergency response device for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0051] The following examples and... Figures 1-6The present invention will be described in further detail, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0052] This invention discloses a lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), specifically comprising:

[0053] Airborne light source assembly for illumination.

[0054] The airborne power management component, connected to the airborne light source component, is used to provide power to the airborne light source component.

[0055] The airborne tethering assembly, connected to the airborne power management assembly, is used to obtain power from the tethering cable and transmit it to the airborne power management assembly.

[0056] Tensile testing components are used to detect the tensile force of moored cables.

[0057] The communication component, connected to the tension detection component, is used to receive the tension of the mooring cable and control the adjustment of the cable length. It is also connected to the airborne light source component to control the lighting brightness.

[0058] In practical applications, the airborne light source assembly is used for lighting, the airborne power management assembly can convert the electrical energy transmitted from the airborne mooring assembly into the power required by the airborne light source assembly, and the tension detection assembly can detect the tension of the mooring cable on the airborne mooring assembly and generate a control signal based on the tension value. This signal is transmitted to the mooring cable controller through the communication assembly to adjust the cable length. All five parts use lightweight and compact devices and are integrated with interfaces for easy installation.

[0059] The airborne light source assembly includes an illumination device, a brightness controller, and a current detection assembly.

[0060] The brightness controller is connected to the lighting device. According to the preset brightness level, it finds the corresponding current based on the preset current-brightness level lookup table and records it as the standard current.

[0061] The brightness controller is connected to the current detection component, which is used to detect the current in the circuit and obtain the real-time current.

[0062] The brightness controller adjusts the current until the real-time current matches the standard current.

[0063] Lighting devices are used for illumination.

[0064] In practical applications, the brightness of the lighting device is controlled by a brightness controller. The current detection component detects the brightness of the lighting device and transmits the brightness value to the brightness controller. At the same time, the brightness controller can also receive the brightness value sent by the communication component. The brightness of the lighting device is controlled through these two methods. Among them, the communication component has a higher priority than the current detection component. That is to say, if the communication component does not receive the brightness control value, the brightness controller controls the lighting device to emit light according to the preset brightness value. If the communication component receives the brightness control value, the brightness controller controls the lighting device to emit light according to the brightness value transmitted by the communication component. The current detection component performs real-time current detection to ensure that the brightness of the lighting device meets the required brightness value.

[0065] The airborne power management system includes a power conversion component, a power detection component, a fuse switch, and an alarm.

[0066] The power conversion unit connects to the airborne tethering assembly and is used to receive power from the tethering cable and convert it into power for the mechanical light source assembly.

[0067] The power detection component is connected to the onboard tethering component and is used to detect whether the power supply of the tethering cable is within the preset normal range.

[0068] If the signal is outside the preset normal range, the safety switch will be turned off, cutting off the power supply to the mooring cable and triggering the alarm.

[0069] If within the preset normal range, the power supply to the tethered cable will be converted to the power supply to the mechanical light source assembly.

[0070] In practical applications, the voltage detector can detect the voltage value received by the mooring cable socket and determine whether the voltage value is within the specified voltage range (i.e., the voltage range that the power converter can handle). If so, it controls the fuse switch to close, thus connecting the mooring cable socket and the power converter. If not, it controls the fuse switch to open, thus disconnecting the mooring cable socket and the power converter. Furthermore, an alarm can be connected to the voltage detector. If the voltage detector determines that the voltage value is not within the specified voltage range, it can control the alarm to sound.

[0071] The power conversion assembly includes a power converter, a first connector, and a second connector.

[0072] The power converter is used to convert the power supply of the tethered cable into the power supply of the mechanical light source assembly.

[0073] The first connector is connected to the power converter to receive the converted power and distribute it to the lighting device.

[0074] The second connector connects to the existing tether cable socket on the tethered drone, receives the converted power, and distributes it to the drone.

[0075] In practical applications, the first connector is used to connect to the tethered cable interface of the lighting device, so as to provide the power allocated by the power converter to the lighting device to illuminate it. The second connector is used to connect to the original tethered cable socket on the tethered drone, so as to provide the power allocated by the power converter to the tethered drone to ensure the normal operation of the tethered drone.

[0076] Reference Figure 6 A safety switch is installed between the tethered cable socket and the power converter, and a voltage detector connected to the safety switch is also installed. Based on this, the voltage detector can detect the voltage value received by the tethered cable socket and determine whether the voltage value is within the specified voltage range (i.e., the voltage range that the power converter supports). If so, it controls the safety switch to close, thus connecting the tethered cable socket and the power converter; if not, it controls the safety switch to open, thus disconnecting the tethered cable socket and the power converter.

[0077] Furthermore, an alarm can be connected to the voltage detector. If the voltage detector determines that the voltage value is not within the specified voltage range, it can control the alarm to sound an alarm.

[0078] The power converter includes a first DC chopper and a second DC chopper.

[0079] The first DC chopper is connected to the mooring cable to obtain electrical power supplied by the mooring cable.

[0080] The second DC chopper is connected to the first DC chopper and is used to convert the first voltage converted by the first DC chopper to obtain a second voltage adapted to the tethered UAV, and to provide power to the second connector according to the second voltage.

[0081] In practical applications, the first DC chopper connects to the tethered cable connector to obtain power from the tethered cable. The first DC chopper converts the obtained power to a first voltage suitable for the lighting equipment and supplies power to the first connector according to this first voltage. That is, it supplies power to the lighting equipment that meets its voltage requirements (i.e., the first voltage). The second DC chopper further converts the first voltage from the first DC chopper to a second voltage suitable for the tethered drone and supplies power to the second connector according to this second voltage. That is, it supplies power to the tethered drone that meets its voltage requirements (i.e., the second voltage).

[0082] Reference Figure 4Here, Vpower is the electrical energy received by the tethered cable socket. To proportionally reduce the power supply voltage to a suitable value for the comparator, two resistors, R1 and R2, form a voltage divider circuit. The power supply Vpower is divided by R1 and R2 in series, resulting in a voltage division value V_sampling across R2. According to the series voltage divider formula, V_sampling = V_in * R2 / (R1 + R2). By appropriately selecting the resistance values ​​of R1 and R2, the actual power supply voltage can be proportionally reduced to a suitable range that the comparator can handle, such as converting a higher power supply voltage to a range of a few volts for use by subsequent circuits.

[0083] A voltage comparator (e.g., LM393) is used. The comparator has two inputs. Here, the voltage V_sampling obtained by voltage division is connected to the inverting input (denoted by -). Simultaneously, two adjustable resistors, R3 and R4, are used in conjunction with a reference power supply V_ref (which can be a stable reference voltage source, such as a 5V reference voltage chip) to set the upper and lower limit reference voltages. These are connected to the non-inverting input (denoted by +) of the comparator. R3 and R4 are connected in series across the reference power supply V_ref. By adjusting their resistance ratio, different upper and lower limit voltage values ​​can be obtained (e.g., adjusting the resistance of R3 sets the upper limit reference voltage V_high_ref, and adjusting the resistance of R4 sets the lower limit reference voltage V_low_ref).

[0084] When V_sampling is greater than V_high_ref or less than V_low_ref, the comparator output level will change (e.g., from high to low or vice versa, depending on the comparator type and configuration) to reflect that the power supply voltage exceeds the set range.

[0085] The relay drive and fuse switch control section: The comparator output is connected to the base of a transistor Q1 (e.g., an NPN transistor, such as the commonly used 9013), which drives an electromagnetic relay K1. The collector of the transistor is connected to one end of the relay K1 coil, and the other end of the coil is connected to the power supply Vpower. A diode D1 (usually a freewheeling diode, such as 1N4148) is connected in parallel across the relay coil to provide a release circuit for the self-induced electromotive force generated when the relay coil is de-energized, protecting the transistor and other circuit components. When the comparator outputs a high level (indicating the voltage is within the normal range), transistor Q1 conducts, energizing the relay K1 coil, and its normally open contact closes. When the comparator outputs a low level (indicating the voltage is out of range), transistor Q1 is cut off, de-energizing the relay K1 coil, and its normally open contact opens. The fuse switch is connected in series with the relay's normally open contact, so when the relay contact opens, the fuse switch also opens.

[0086] The output of the comparator can also be connected to another transistor Q2 (e.g., a PNP transistor), which is opposite to the conduction and cutoff of Q1. Transistor Q2 drives an electromagnetic relay K2, which controls the on / off state of the alarm. The on / off state of the alarm is opposite to that of the fuse switch.

[0087] Reference Figure 5 VPOWER is the power supply provided by the tethered cable. J1 is the tethered cable connector. The VPOWER, through the MP2315 chip (a DC chopper chip), converts the power supplied by the tethered cable into DVDD 5V power required by the lighting device, and outputs the DVDD 5V power to the lighting device through the first connector. Based on the DVDD 5V power, the ME6211C33 chip (another DC chopper chip) further converts the DVDD 5V power into DVDD 3.3V power, and outputs the DVDD 3.3V power to the tethered drone through the second connector.

[0088] Capacitors C2 and C3 are used for filtering to ensure stable voltage on the in and vcc pins of the MP2315 chip. Resistor R1 and capacitor C1 provide the required voltage to the BST pin (boot pin) of the MP2315 chip, and inductor L1 is used for voltage regulation to ensure stable output of DVDD 5V power. Resistor R2 and capacitor C5 provide the required voltage to the AAM pin (Advanced Asynchronous Modulation pin) of the MP2315 chip.

[0089] The airborne tethering assembly includes cable securing clips and tethering cable interfaces.

[0090] Cable securing clips are used to secure tethered cables.

[0091] The tethered cable interface is used to receive power transmitted via the tethered cable.

[0092] The tensile testing component includes a tensile sensor and a tensile controller.

[0093] Tension sensors are used to detect the tension of tethered cables on drones.

[0094] The tension controller is connected to the tension sensor signal to receive the tension of the tether cable on the drone and determine whether the tension of the tether cable on the drone exceeds the preset tension value.

[0095] If the tension exceeds the preset value, a control signal is generated and transmitted to the communication component.

[0096] The communication components include a transmitting module, a first receiving module, a second receiving module, and a tethered cable controller.

[0097] The transmitting module and the first receiving module are both installed on the UAV, while the second receiving module is installed on the tethered cable controller.

[0098] The transmitting module is connected to the tension controller signal and is used to receive control signals and send them to the second receiving module.

[0099] The second receiving module is connected to the transmitting module and is used to receive control signals and transmit the control signals to the mooring cable controller.

[0100] The tethered cable controller is connected to the receiving module to receive control signals and control the cable retraction and extension actions according to the control signals.

[0101] The first receiving module is connected to the airborne light source assembly and is used to control the lighting brightness.

[0102] In practical applications, the tension detection module transmits the detected tension value to the controller. The controller generates a control signal based on the tension value and transmits it to the transmitting module. The transmitting module then sends the control signal to the second receiving module. The cable controller performs cable retraction and extension operations based on the control signal from the second receiving module. The cable controller is a commercially available cable controller for ordinary tethered drones, and the second receiving module in the communication component is mounted on the cable controller. Because the tethered cable can be affected by wind or accidental human contact, increasing the tension on the drone, it can alter the drone's position and cause deviations in the lighting range. This solution allows for real-time adjustment of the tethered cable's retraction and extension based on the tension, ensuring the drone's position remains constant and the lighting range is stable. A tethered drone is a type of drone connected to a ground power source and data transmission system via a tethered cable. This tethered cable typically includes power and signal lines, providing continuous power to the drone and transmitting control signals and data. Compared to traditional drones powered by their own batteries, tethered drones are freed from the limitations of battery capacity and flight time.

[0103] The first receiving module is connected to the brightness controller. The first receiving module collects the brightness signal set by the user and transmits the brightness signal to the brightness controller. The brightness controller controls the brightness of the lighting device according to the brightness signal.

[0104] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A lighting device integrated into an emergency response system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), characterized in that, include: Airborne light source assembly for illumination; An airborne power management component, connected to the airborne light source component, is used to provide power to the airborne light source component; The airborne power management component includes a power conversion component, a power detection component, a fuse switch, and an alarm. The power conversion component is connected to the airborne tethering component and is used to receive power from the tethering cable and convert it into power for the mechanical tethering component; The power detection component is connected to the airborne tethering component and is used to detect whether the power supply of the tethering cable is within a preset normal range; If the condition is outside the preset normal range, the safety switch will be turned off to cut off the power supply to the mooring cable, and the alarm will be activated. If within the preset normal range, the power supply to the tethering cable will be switched to the power supply to the mechanical tethering assembly; An airborne tethering assembly, connected to the airborne power management assembly, is used to obtain power from the tethering cable and transmit it to the airborne power management assembly; Tensile testing assembly for detecting the tensile force of mooring cables; The tensile force detection component includes a tensile force sensor and a tensile force controller; The tension sensor is used to detect the tension of the tether cable on the drone; The tension controller is connected to the tension sensor signal and is used to receive the tension of the tether cable on the drone and determine whether the tension of the tether cable on the drone exceeds a preset tension value. If the tension exceeds the preset value, a control signal is generated and transmitted to the communication component. A communication component, connected to the tension detection component, is used to receive the tension of the mooring cable and control the adjustment of the cable length. It is also connected to the airborne light source component to control the lighting brightness.

2. The lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airborne light source assembly includes an illumination device, a brightness controller, and a current detection assembly; The brightness controller is connected to the lighting device. According to the preset brightness level, it finds the corresponding current according to the preset current-brightness level lookup table and records it as the standard current. The brightness controller is connected to the current detection component, which is used to detect the current in the circuit and obtain the real-time current. The brightness controller controls the adjustment current until the real-time current matches the standard current. The lighting device is used for illumination.

3. A lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power conversion assembly includes a power converter, a first connector, and a second connector. The power converter is used to convert the power supply of the tethered cable into the power supply of the mechanical light source assembly. The first connector is connected to the power converter and is used to receive the converted power and distribute it to the lighting device; The second connector connects to the existing tether cable socket on the tethered drone, receives the converted power, and distributes it to the drone.

4. A lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The power converter includes a first DC chopper and a second DC chopper. The first DC chopper is connected to the mooring cable to obtain electrical energy provided by the mooring cable; The second DC chopper is connected to the first DC chopper and is used to convert the first voltage converted by the first DC chopper to obtain a second voltage adapted to the tethered UAV, and to provide power to the second connector according to the second voltage.

5. A lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airborne tethering assembly includes a cable fixing clip and a tethering cable interface; The cable fixing clip is used to secure the tethered cable; The tethered cable interface is used to receive power transmitted by the tethered cable.

6. A lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The communication component includes a transmitting module, a first receiving module, a second receiving module, and a tethered cable controller; The transmitting module and the first receiving module are both installed on the drone, and the second receiving module is installed on the tethered cable controller; The transmitting module is connected to the tension controller signal and is used to receive the control signal and send it to the second receiving module; The second receiving module is signal-connected to the transmitting module and is used to receive the control signal and transmit the control signal to the tether cable controller; The tethered cable controller is signal-connected to the second receiving module and is used to receive the control signal and control the cable retraction and extension actions according to the control signal; The first receiving module is signal-connected to the airborne light source assembly and is used to control the lighting brightness.

7. A lighting device for integrating emergency response equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first receiving module is signal-connected to the brightness controller. The first receiving module collects the brightness signal set by the user and transmits the brightness signal to the brightness controller. The brightness controller controls the brightness of the lighting device according to the brightness signal.

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