Charging endurance method for civil unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses a civil unmanned aerial vehicle charging endurance method which is characterized in that a solar cell installed on an unmanned aerial vehicle is used for charging a storage battery to improve the endurance of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the solar cell adopts a solar thin film cell and is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle in a winding mode; and when charging is needed, the solar thin-film battery is controlled to expand outwards in the air and receive solar energy to realize charging. The problem of insufficient endurance of the rotor unmanned aerial vehicle is solved, and the service time is prolonged by charging the rotor unmanned aerial vehicle through the thin-film battery. And on the premise that the overall flight stability and safety of the unmanned aerial vehicle are not affected, the endurance working capacity of the unmanned aerial vehicle is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of charging and endurance of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle, and in particular to a charging and endurance method for a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Unmanned aircraft, or "drones" for short, are unmanned aircraft that are controlled by radio remote control equipment and self-contained program control devices. Drones are actually a general term for unmanned aerial vehicles. According to their use, drones can be divided into military drones and civilian drones. Since their birth, drones were initially used in the military field, but have gradually expanded from the original military field to the consumer field. Now, drones in the public's concept mostly refer to civilian drones.

[0003] Civilian drones are widely used in aerial photography, agriculture, plant protection, micro selfies, express delivery, disaster relief, wildlife observation, infectious disease monitoring, surveying and mapping, news reporting, power inspection, disaster relief, film and television shooting, creating romance, etc., but the most common application is still for taking photos and videos. In September 2018, the World Customs Organization Harmonized System Committee (HSC) decided to classify drones as "flying cameras" and regulate them as "cameras".

[0004] The classic structure of a modern civilian drone includes a fuselage in the middle, with arms extending horizontally outward around the fuselage, rotors at the end of the arms, and cameras generally mounted on the fuselage. Civilian drones rely on batteries on the drone to provide power for flight and photography. However, the battery capacity is limited, so how to improve endurance is a common problem in the field of civilian drone design.

[0005] Some existing methods that can improve the charging and endurance of drones, such as CN201721789980.3, CN201721608923.0, CN207482201U, and other patented technologies that can rely on solar cells installed on drones to charge batteries to improve endurance. However, in these existing patented technologies, the solar cells are fixedly installed on the drone body, and in order to reduce weight, the drone body is usually small in size, so the area of ​​solar cells that can be installed is limited, and its charging and endurance is limited. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: how to provide a charging and endurance method for a civilian UAV that can better charge the battery to improve the endurance.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: A charging and endurance method for a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle, in which a solar cell installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle is used to charge a battery to improve the endurance of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method is characterized in that the solar cell is a solar film battery and is rolled and installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle. When charging is needed, the solar film battery is controlled to unfold outward into the air and receive solar energy to achieve charging.

[0008] In this way, the solar thin film battery is used to supplement the battery of the drone for battery life. When charging is not needed, the thin film battery can be rolled up and retracted onto the drone so that it does not affect the normal flight of the drone. When charging is needed, the solar thin film battery can be controlled to unfold and receive sunlight for charging. Therefore, the charging area is not limited by the size of the drone body, which can better improve the performance of the drone's charging and battery life.

[0009] Furthermore, when the drone does not need to be charged, the thin-film battery is rolled up and retracted on the drone, which can better protect the battery.

[0010] Furthermore, when the drone is stopped or in a fixed-point suspension state (for example, performing a fixed-position aerial photography mission), the solar thin-film battery is deployed for charging, which can better avoid interference of charging on the flight of the drone.

[0011] Furthermore, the method is implemented by a self-charging rotary-wing UAV, which includes a body located in the middle, with arms extending horizontally outward from all sides of the body, a rotor mechanism provided at the end of the arm, a battery installed on the body, the battery is connected to the rotor mechanism and supplies power to it, and a charging device is also installed on the body, the charging device includes a wrapped solar film battery and a battery extension and retraction control device connected to the solar film battery, and the power output end of the solar film battery is connected to the battery to form a charging circuit.

[0012] In this way, when the drone is in use, after the battery power is exhausted, the battery extension control device can be used to control the rolled-up solar thin-film battery to extend outward and expand, receiving sunlight to charge the battery. In this way, the battery area is not limited by the size of the drone, and the drone's endurance can be better improved. When charging is not needed, the solar thin-film battery can be rolled back so that it does not interfere with the normal flight of the drone. Therefore, this device utilizes the flexible, light, and retractable characteristics of thin-film solar cells to achieve battery retraction and release control, which not only improves the drone's charging efficiency and endurance, but also reduces interference with the drone's flight and ensures the drone's stability.

[0013] Furthermore, the support arm includes a hollow connecting arm and a support arm decoration covering the outer surface of the connecting arm.

[0014] In this way, the connecting arm is made of a hollow high-strength material, and matched with the decorative parts on the outer surface, which improves the appearance while ensuring sufficient strength and low weight.

[0015] Furthermore, the machine body includes a machine base and a decorative upper cover installed on the upper surface of the machine base, the inner end of the connecting arm is fixed on the machine base, and the supporting arm decorative piece is fitted and connected with the edge of the decorative upper cover.

[0016] This provides better protection and improves the appearance.

[0017] Furthermore, the charging device is installed between the base and the decorative cover, a battery outlet is provided on the side of the decorative cover, and the battery extension and retraction control device can control the solar film battery to extend outward along the battery outlet.

[0018] In this way, the charging device can be better protected.

[0019] Furthermore, the solar thin-film cells are symmetrically arranged in pairs along the center of the body.

[0020] In this way, the solar thin-film cells are deployed in pairs along the center of the fuselage to both sides, better maintaining the balance and stability of the drone.

[0021] Furthermore, the battery telescopic control device includes battery shafts arranged in pairs, the battery shafts are horizontally arranged and symmetrically installed on the base, the solar thin-film batteries are wrapped and installed on the corresponding battery shafts, and a telescopic mechanism is correspondingly arranged under each solar thin-film battery. The battery telescopic control device also includes a control motor and a linkage transmission mechanism connected to the control motor, the linkage transmission mechanism is connected between the battery shaft and the corresponding telescopic mechanism, the fixed end of the telescopic mechanism is installed on the base, and the telescopic end of the telescopic mechanism is horizontally arranged outward and connected to the outer end of the solar thin-film battery.

[0022] In this way, when charging is needed, the motor is controlled to output forward rotation, and the linkage transmission mechanism can drive the telescopic mechanism to extend outward, and at the same time drive the battery shaft to rotate synchronously, so that the solar thin-film battery can follow the telescopic mechanism to extend outward synchronously and unfold horizontally to absorb sunlight for charging. After charging is completed, the motor is controlled to output reverse rotation, and the linkage transmission mechanism can drive the telescopic mechanism to retract, and at the same time drive the battery shaft to rotate in the opposite direction to realize the synchronous winding of the solar thin-film battery. Therefore, it can facilitate synchronous linkage, realize the synchronous control of the unfolding and retracting of the solar thin-film battery, and the structure is simple, compact, ingenious and stable.

[0023] Furthermore, the linkage transmission mechanism includes a pair of linkage gears installed at the same end of each pair of battery shafts, the linkage gears are meshed with each other, and also includes an intermediate shaft arranged in parallel between the two battery shafts, the end of the intermediate shaft facing the linkage gear and any battery shaft are transmission connected by a transversely arranged belt mechanism, an active bevel gear is installed at the end of the intermediate shaft facing away from the linkage gear, the two sides of the active bevel gear are respectively meshed with a passive bevel gear, a screw is respectively arranged at the axis center of the passive bevel gear, the screw is rotatably installed on the machine base through a screw seat, bosses are arranged on both sides of the screw seat to realize axial limitation of the screw, the outer ends of the screws are each screwed with a nut located below the corresponding battery shaft, a stop-rotation limiting structure is arranged between the nut and the machine base, and the nut is connected to the telescopic mechanism.

[0024] In this way, a screw and nut transmission mechanism is formed between the screw and the nut. After the control motor is transmitted to the linkage transmission mechanism, the two battery shafts can be driven to rotate in opposite directions through the two linkage gears; at the same time, the battery shaft drives the intermediate shaft to rotate in the same direction through the belt mechanism, and then drives the screws on both sides to rotate through the cooperation of the bevel gears, and then drives the nut to do axial translation through the screw and nut transmission mechanism, and then drives the telescopic mechanism to extend outward, realizing the synchronous linkage control of the telescopic mechanism and the battery shaft, and then stably and reliably drives the solar thin-film battery to extend outward and retract and recover. It has the characteristics of simple structure and stable and reliable transmission.

[0025] Furthermore, one end of any battery shaft is a power input end and is transmission-connected to the control motor, so as to facilitate the input of power.

[0026] Furthermore, the telescopic mechanism comprises a plurality of pairs of hinge rods hinged in an X shape at the middle position, the ends of each pair of hinge rods are hingedly connected to the ends of the adjacent pairs of hinge rods so that each pair of hinge rods is arranged in a straight line and extends outward as a whole, the outer ends of the outermost pair of hinge rods are hingedly fixed to the lower surface of the outer ends of the corresponding solar film cells, the hinge shafts at the hinge points of the innermost pair of hinge rods are installed and positioned on the machine base, and the two legs at the inner ends of the innermost pair of hinge rods are provided with slide grooves along the length direction of the hinge rods; the telescopic mechanism also comprises two push rods which are parallel to each other and arranged along the overall arrangement direction of the hinge rods, one end of the push rod is fixed on the nut, and the other end is provided with a circular hinge joint along the side and can be slidably engaged in the slide groove.

[0027] In this way, when the screw nut transmission mechanism drives the nut to translate along the axial direction, the two push rods can be controlled to push outward or retract inward, thereby driving the two hinge rods at the starting end to rotate to open or close each other, and the hinge rods are linked to drive the solar thin-film battery to quickly extend and retract. Therefore, the telescopic mechanism only needs to control the rotation of a single pair of hinge rods at the starting end over a short distance to drive the entire telescopic mechanism and the battery as a whole to quickly expand and retract over a long distance. It has the advantages of simple structure, stable transmission, long control distance, and fast response.

[0028] In summary, the present invention solves the problem of insufficient endurance of the rotary wing UAV and extends the use time by charging the thin film battery. Without affecting the overall flight stability and safety of the UAV, the endurance of the UAV is increased. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the self-charging rotary-wing UAV used in the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure from bottom to top after the base is removed.

[0031] Figure 3 for Figure 1 An enlarged schematic diagram of the local structure of the separate base portion of the device after the support arm decoration and the decorative upper cover are removed.

[0032] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the local structure of the separate telescopic mechanism part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Optimal embodiment: A method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian UAV, in which the battery is charged by solar cells installed on the UAV to improve the UAV's flight time. The method is characterized in that the solar cells are solar film cells and are rolled up and installed on the UAV. When charging is needed, the solar film cells are controlled to unfold into the air and receive solar energy for charging.

[0035] In this way, the solar thin film battery is used to supplement the battery of the drone for battery life. When charging is not needed, the thin film battery can be rolled up and retracted onto the drone so that it does not affect the normal flight of the drone. When charging is needed, the solar thin film battery can be controlled to unfold and receive sunlight for charging. Therefore, the charging area is not limited by the size of the drone body, which can better improve the performance of the drone's charging and battery life.

[0036] When the drone does not need to be charged, the thin-film battery is rolled up and retracted on the drone, which can better protect the battery.

[0037] When the drone is stopped or suspended at a fixed point (for example, when performing a fixed-position aerial photography mission), the solar thin-film battery is deployed for charging, which can better avoid interference of charging on the flight of the drone.

[0038] The method is implemented by a self-charging rotary wing UAV, wherein the self-charging rotary wing UAV is Figure 1-4 , including a body located in the middle, with arms extending horizontally outward around the body, a rotor mechanism 1 being arranged at the end of the arm, a battery (not shown in the figure) being installed on the body, the battery being connected to and supplying power to the rotor mechanism 1, a charging device being also installed on the body, the charging device comprising a wrapped solar film battery 2 and a battery extension and retraction control device connected to the solar film battery 2, and the power output end of the solar film battery 2 being connected to the battery to form a charging circuit.

[0039] In this way, when the drone is in use, after the battery power is exhausted, the battery extension control device can be used to control the rolled-up solar thin-film battery to extend outward and expand, receiving sunlight to charge the battery. In this way, the battery area is not limited by the size of the drone, and the drone's endurance can be better improved. When charging is not needed, the solar thin-film battery can be rolled back so that it does not interfere with the normal flight of the drone. Therefore, this device utilizes the flexible, light, and retractable characteristics of thin-film solar cells to achieve battery retraction and release control, which not only improves the drone's charging efficiency and endurance, but also reduces interference with the drone's flight and ensures the drone's stability.

[0040] The support arm includes a hollow connecting arm 3 and a support arm decoration 4 covering the outer surface of the connecting arm.

[0041] In this way, the connecting arm is made of a hollow high-strength material, and matched with the decorative parts on the outer surface, which improves the appearance while ensuring sufficient strength and low weight.

[0042] The machine body includes a machine base 5 and a decorative upper cover 6 installed on the upper surface of the machine base 5 , the inner end of the connecting arm 3 is fixed on the machine base 5 , and the supporting arm decoration 4 is fitted and connected with the edge of the decorative upper cover 6 .

[0043] This provides better protection and improves the appearance.

[0044] The charging device is installed between the base 5 and the decorative upper cover 6. A battery outlet is provided on the side of the decorative upper cover 6. The battery extension control device can control the solar film battery 2 to extend outward along the battery outlet.

[0045] In this way, the charging device can be better protected.

[0046] The solar thin-film cells 2 are symmetrically arranged in pairs along the center of the machine body.

[0047] In this way, the solar thin-film cells are deployed in pairs along the center of the fuselage to both sides, better maintaining the balance and stability of the drone.

[0048] Among them, the battery telescopic control device includes a pair of battery shafts 7, the battery shafts 7 are horizontally arranged and symmetrically installed on the base 5, the solar thin-film batteries 2 are wrapped and installed on the corresponding battery shafts 7, and a telescopic mechanism is correspondingly arranged under each solar thin-film battery. The battery telescopic control device also includes a control motor and a linkage transmission mechanism connected to the control motor, the linkage transmission mechanism is connected between the battery shaft and the corresponding telescopic mechanism, the fixed end of the telescopic mechanism is installed on the base, and the telescopic end of the telescopic mechanism is horizontally arranged outward and connected to the outer end of the solar thin-film battery 2.

[0049] In this way, when charging is needed, the motor is controlled to output forward rotation, and the linkage transmission mechanism can drive the telescopic mechanism to extend outward, and at the same time drive the battery shaft to rotate synchronously, so that the solar thin-film battery can follow the telescopic mechanism to extend outward synchronously and unfold horizontally to absorb sunlight for charging. After charging is completed, the motor is controlled to output reverse rotation, and the linkage transmission mechanism can drive the telescopic mechanism to retract, and at the same time drive the battery shaft to rotate in the opposite direction to realize the synchronous winding of the solar thin-film battery. Therefore, it can facilitate synchronous linkage, realize the synchronous control of the unfolding and retracting of the solar thin-film battery, and the structure is simple, compact, ingenious and stable.

[0050] Among them, the linkage transmission mechanism includes a pair of linkage gears 8 installed at the same end of each pair of battery shafts, the linkage gears 8 are meshed with each other, and also includes an intermediate shaft 9 arranged in parallel between the two battery shafts 7, the intermediate shaft 9 is facing the linkage gear. The end of the intermediate shaft 9 is connected to any battery shaft through a transversely arranged belt mechanism 10. An active bevel gear 11 is installed at the end of the intermediate shaft 9 facing away from the linkage gear. The two sides of the active bevel gear 11 are respectively meshed with a passive bevel gear 12. A screw 13 is respectively arranged at the axis of the passive bevel gear 12. The screw 13 is rotatably installed on the base through a screw seat. Bosses are arranged on both sides of the screw seat of the screw 13 to realize axial limitation of the screw. The outer ends of the screw 13 are each screwed with a nut 14 located below the corresponding battery shaft. A stop-rotation limiting structure is arranged between the nut 14 and the base 5, and the nut is connected to the telescopic mechanism.

[0051] In this way, a screw and nut transmission mechanism is formed between the screw and the nut. After the control motor is transmitted to the linkage transmission mechanism, the two battery shafts can be driven to rotate in opposite directions through the two linkage gears; at the same time, the battery shaft drives the intermediate shaft to rotate in the same direction through the belt mechanism, and then drives the screws on both sides to rotate through the cooperation of the bevel gears, and then drives the nut to do axial translation through the screw and nut transmission mechanism, and then drives the telescopic mechanism to extend outward, realizing the synchronous linkage control of the telescopic mechanism and the battery shaft, and then stably and reliably drives the solar thin-film battery to extend outward and retract and recover. It has the characteristics of simple structure and stable and reliable transmission. During implementation, the anti-rotation limit structure can be a limit surface that is in contact with at least one surface on the outside of the nut to achieve anti-rotation limit.

[0052] One end of any battery shaft is a power input end 15 and is drivingly connected to the control motor (not shown in the figure), so as to facilitate the input of power.

[0053] Among them, the telescopic mechanism includes multiple pairs of hinge rods 16 hinged in the middle position to form an X, and the ends of each pair of hinge rods 16 are hingedly connected to the ends of the adjacent pairs of hinge rods so that each pair of hinge rods is arranged in a straight line and extends outward as a whole. The outer ends 19 of the outermost pair of hinge rods are hingedly fixed to the lower surface of the outer ends of the corresponding solar film batteries, and the hinge shafts 20 at the hinge points of the innermost pair of hinge rods are installed and positioned on the machine base. The two legs at the inner ends of the innermost pair of hinge rods are provided with slide grooves 17 along the length direction of the hinge rods; the telescopic mechanism also includes two push rods 18 that are parallel to each other and arranged along the overall arrangement direction of the hinge rods. One end of the push rod 18 is fixed on the nut 14, and the other end is provided with a circular hinge head along the side and can be slidably engaged in the slide groove 17.

[0054] In this way, when the screw nut transmission mechanism drives the nut to translate along the axial direction, the two push rods can be controlled to push outward or retract inward, thereby driving the two hinge rods at the starting end to rotate to open or close each other, and the hinge rods are linked to drive the solar thin-film battery to quickly extend and retract. Therefore, the telescopic mechanism only needs to control the rotation of a single pair of hinge rods at the starting end over a short distance to drive the entire telescopic mechanism and the battery as a whole to quickly expand and retract over a long distance. It has the advantages of simple structure, stable transmission, long control distance, and fast response.

Claims

1. A method for charging and extending the flight of a civilian drone, wherein the method uses a solar cell installed on the drone to charge a battery to improve the drone's flight endurance, and is characterized in that: The solar cell uses a solar film battery and is rolled up and installed on the drone. When charging is needed, the solar film battery is controlled to unfold into the air and receive solar energy for charging.

2. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the drone does not need to be charged, the thin-film battery is rolled up and retracted into the drone.

3. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian UAV as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: When the drone is parked or in fixed-point hovering state, the solar thin-film battery is unfolded for charging.

4. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: This method is implemented by relying on a self-charging rotary-wing UAV, which includes a body located in the middle, with arms extending outward horizontally around the body, a rotor mechanism at the end of the arm, a battery installed on the body, the battery is connected to the rotor mechanism and supplies power to it, and a charging device is also installed on the body, the charging device includes a wrapped solar film battery and a battery extension and retraction control device connected to the solar film battery, and the power output end of the solar film battery is connected to the battery to form a charging circuit.

5. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The support arm comprises a hollowed-out connecting arm and a support arm decoration piece covering the outer surface of the connecting arm.

6. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The machine body includes a machine base and a decorative upper cover mounted on the upper surface of the machine base; The charging device is installed between the base and the decorative upper cover. A battery outlet is arranged on the side of the decorative upper cover. The battery extension and retraction control device can control the solar film battery to extend outward along the battery outlet.

7. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The solar thin-film cells are symmetrically arranged in pairs along the center of the machine body.

8. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that: The battery telescopic control device includes a pair of battery shafts, which are horizontally arranged and symmetrically installed on the base. The solar thin-film batteries are wrapped and installed on the corresponding battery shafts. A telescopic mechanism is correspondingly arranged under each solar thin-film battery. The battery telescopic control device also includes a control motor and a linkage transmission mechanism connected to the control motor. The linkage transmission mechanism is connected between the battery shaft and the corresponding telescopic mechanism. The fixed end of the telescopic mechanism is installed on the base, and the telescopic end of the telescopic mechanism is horizontally arranged outward and connected to the outer end of the solar thin-film battery.

9. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that: The linkage transmission mechanism includes a pair of linkage gears installed at the same end of each pair of battery shafts, the linkage gears are meshed with each other, and also includes an intermediate shaft arranged in parallel between the two battery shafts, the end of the intermediate shaft facing the linkage gear and any battery shaft are connected through a transversely arranged belt mechanism, an active bevel gear is installed at the end of the intermediate shaft facing away from the linkage gear, the two sides of the active bevel gear are respectively meshed with a passive bevel gear, a screw is respectively arranged at the axis of the passive bevel gear, the screw is rotatably installed on the machine base through a screw seat, bosses are arranged on both sides of the screw seat to realize axial limitation of the screw, the outer ends of the screws are respectively screwed with a nut located below the corresponding battery shaft, a stop-rotation limiting structure is arranged between the nut and the machine base, and the nut is connected to the telescopic mechanism.

10. The method for charging and extending the flight time of a civilian unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that: One end of any battery shaft is a power input end and is transmission-connected to the control motor; The telescopic mechanism comprises a plurality of pairs of hinge rods which are hinged in an X shape at the middle position, and the ends of each pair of hinge rods are hingedly connected to the ends of the adjacent pairs of hinge rods so that each pair of hinge rods is arranged in a straight line and extends outward as a whole. The outer ends of the outermost pair of hinge rods are hingedly fixed to the lower surface of the outer ends of the corresponding solar film cells, and the hinge shafts at the hinge points of the innermost pair of hinge rods are installed and positioned on the machine base. The two legs at the inner ends of the innermost pair of hinge rods are provided with sliding grooves along the length direction of the hinge rods; the telescopic mechanism also comprises two push rods which are parallel to each other and arranged along the overall arrangement direction of the hinge rods, one end of the push rod is fixed on the nut, and the other end is provided with a circular hinge joint along the side and can be slidably engaged in the sliding groove.

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