Solar unmanned aerial vehicle with foldable wings

Abstract

The invention provides a solar unmanned aerial vehicle with foldable wings, and relates to the technical field of solar unmanned aerial vehicles, the solar unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a fuselage, middle wings are arranged on the two sides of the fuselage, folding wings are rotationally connected to the two ends, away from the fuselage, of the middle wings respectively, and solar panels are arranged on the upper surfaces of the folding wings and the middle wings; the folding wings extend in the wingspan direction of the middle wing when unfolded, and the upper surfaces of the folding wings are located above the upper surface of the middle wing when the folding wings are folded; the folding driving mechanism is arranged at the rotating joint of the middle wing and the folding wing, and the folding driving mechanism can drive the folding wing to rotate relative to the middle wing; the front propellers are arranged on the front side of the fuselage and the front sides of the outer ends of the middle wings, and the rear propellers are arranged on the rear sides of the outer ends of the folding wings; the problems that in the prior art, a solar unmanned aerial vehicle has high requirements for take-off and landing sites and is poor in transportation and storage performance are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles, and more specifically, relates to a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle with foldable wings. Background Art

[0002] Solar drones have made rapid progress due to their high flight altitude and long cruising time. Therefore, they can be used for regional management monitoring, patrol warning, patrol warning of strategic energy lines and supply lines, etc.; multiple aircraft and warning systems can be networked to realize the relay function of disaster site command communication, and can replace low-orbit communication relay satellites in terms of function.

[0003] At present, high-altitude, long-flight solar drones have large wingspans and often have high requirements for take-off and landing sites. For runways whose wingspans cannot meet the requirements, they usually need to be expanded and renovated. In addition, during storage and transportation, due to the large wingspan, solar drones often need to be repeatedly disassembled and assembled, which increases the risk of damage to the body structure, solar cell array and other components, and the operation is cumbersome. In order to improve the adaptability of drones to the site, facilitate transportation and storage, and reduce the risk of damage to drones, it is necessary to design a solar drone with folding wings. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a foldable-wing solar-powered UAV in view of the deficiencies in the prior art, so as to solve the problems in the prior art of solar-powered UAVs having high requirements for take-off and landing sites and poor transportation and storage performance.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a foldable-wing solar-powered drone, comprising:

[0006] A fuselage, wherein middle wings are arranged on both sides of the fuselage, and folding wings are rotatably connected to the two ends of the middle wings away from the fuselage respectively, and solar panels are arranged on the upper surfaces of the folding wings and the middle wings, and the folding wings extend along the wingspan direction of the middle wings when unfolded, and the upper surfaces of the folding wings are located above the upper surfaces of the middle wings when the folding wings are folded;

[0007] A folding drive mechanism, the folding drive mechanism is arranged at the rotation connection between the middle wing and the folding wing, and the folding drive mechanism can drive the folding wing to rotate relative to the middle wing;

[0008] A front propeller and a rear propeller, wherein the front propeller is arranged at the front side of the fuselage and the front side of the outer end of the middle wing, and the rear propeller is arranged at the rear side of the outer end of the folding wing.

[0009] Optionally, landing gears are provided on the lower sides of the fuselage and the middle wing.

[0010] Optionally, an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate are respectively provided on the upper side and the lower side of the rotational connection between the middle wing and the folding wing, and the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate are made of flexible materials that can be stretched and contracted.

[0011] Optionally, a middle nacelle is provided at the front side of the outer end of the middle wing, and an end nacelle is provided at the outer end of the folding wing.

[0012] Optionally, a front power motor is arranged in the fuselage and the middle cabin, the front propeller is connected to the front power motor, a rear power motor is arranged in the end cabin, the rear propeller is connected to the rear power motor, and the front power motor and the rear power motor have opposite rotation directions.

[0013] Optionally, the folding drive mechanism comprises:

[0014] A rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the folding wing, and a first gear is disposed at one end of the rotating shaft;

[0015] A mounting seat, the mounting seat is fixedly connected to the middle wing, a mounting hole is arranged in the mounting seat, and the other end of the rotating shaft is rotatably arranged in the mounting hole;

[0016] A driving motor is fixedly connected to the middle wing, and an output end of the driving motor is provided with a second gear meshing with the first gear.

[0017] Optionally, the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the folding wing via a connecting ear arranged on the upper surface of the folding wing.

[0018] Optionally, two rotating shafts are provided, two connecting ears are provided on the upper surface of the folding wing, the rotating shaft is provided on the sides of the two connecting ears away from each other, and two mounting seats are provided on the upper surface of the middle wing, and the two mounting seats are located on the sides of the two connecting ears away from each other.

[0019] Optionally, the interior of the middle wing and the folding wing is a hollow structure, and energy storage battery packs, cables and airborne avionics equipment are arranged in the hollow structure.

[0020] Optionally, the folding angle of the folding wings is 0-180°.

[0021] The present invention provides a solar-powered UAV with foldable wings, which has the following beneficial effects: the wings of the solar-powered UAV with foldable wings include two parts, namely, an intermediate wing and a folding wing which are arranged in sequence from the inside to the outside; under the drive of a folding drive mechanism, the folding wing can be flipped toward the top of the intermediate wing until it is folded above the upper surface of the intermediate wing, thereby reducing the geometric dimensions of the UAV during take-off and landing, and improving the adaptability to the take-off and landing sites and the transportation and storage properties; after the wings are folded, the solar panels can be protected, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the solar panels; and because the wing deployment angle and the front and rear propellers can be controlled respectively, the maneuverability and endurance of the UAV are improved.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through a more detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals generally represent like components throughout the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a foldable-wing solar-powered drone when its folding wings are unfolded is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown when the foldable wings are folded.

[0026] Figure 3 A structural schematic diagram of a folding drive mechanism of a foldable-wing solar-powered UAV according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0027] Description of reference numerals:

[0028] 1. First propeller; 2. Second propeller; 3. Middle cabin; 4. Solar panel; 5. Third propeller; 6. Fourth propeller; 7. Fifth propeller; 8. End cabin; 9. Left folding wing; 10. Folding drive mechanism; 11. Middle wing; 12. Fuselage; 13. Landing gear; 14. Right folding wing; 10-1. Upper cover; 10-2. Lower cover; 10-3. First gear; 10-4. First connecting ear; 10-5. Rotating shaft; 10-6. First mounting seat; 10-7. Second mounting seat; 10-8. Second connecting ear; 10-9. Driving motor; 10-10. Second gear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make the present invention more thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0030] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the present invention provides a foldable wing solar-powered drone, comprising:

[0031] A fuselage 12, with middle wings 11 disposed on both sides of the fuselage 12, with folding wings rotatably connected to the two ends of the middle wing 11 away from the fuselage 12, and solar panels 4 are disposed on the upper surfaces of the folding wings and the middle wing 11, and the folding wings extend along the wingspan direction of the middle wing 11 when unfolded, and the upper surfaces of the folding wings are located above the upper surface of the middle wing 11 when the folding wings are folded;

[0032] A folding drive mechanism 10, which is arranged at the rotation connection between the middle wing 11 and the folding wing, and the folding drive mechanism 10 can drive the folding wing to rotate relative to the middle wing 11;

[0033] A front propeller and a rear propeller, the front propeller is arranged at the front side of the fuselage 12 and the front side of the outer end of the middle wing 11, and the rear propeller is arranged at the rear side of the outer end of the folding wing.

[0034] Specifically, in order to solve the problems in the prior art that solar-powered UAVs have high requirements for take-off and landing sites and poor transportation and storage performance; the wings of the foldable-wing solar-powered UAV provided by the present invention include two parts, namely, an intermediate wing 11 and a folding wing arranged in sequence from the inside to the outside. Driven by a folding drive mechanism 10, the folding wing can flip toward the top of the intermediate wing 11 until it is folded above the upper surface of the intermediate wing 11, thereby reducing the geometric dimensions of the UAV during take-off and landing, and improving the adaptability to the take-off and landing sites and transportation and storage performance; after the wings are folded, the solar panels 4 can be protected to reduce the risk of damage to the solar panels; since the wing deployment angle and the front and rear propellers can be controlled separately, the maneuverability and endurance of the UAV are improved.

[0035] Furthermore, the foldable-wing solar-powered UAV is provided with a front propeller on the front side of the fuselage 12 and the front side of the outer end of the middle wing 11, and a rear propeller is provided on the rear side of the outer end of the folding wing; the setting of the front propeller and the rear propeller can, on the one hand, avoid mutual interference between the propellers when folding, and on the other hand, enable the aircraft to control the front propeller and the rear propeller separately according to the situation during flight, thereby improving maneuverability and endurance; in addition, the rear layout of some propellers can allow more space at the front end of the wing to be used for installing other equipment, thereby meeting diverse needs.

[0036] Optionally, landing gears 13 are provided on the lower sides of the fuselage 12 and the middle wing 11 .

[0037] Specifically, the landing gear 13 is arranged on the belly of the fuselage 12 and the lower side of the middle wing 11, and does not affect the folding of the folding wing.

[0038] In this embodiment, the landing gear 13 can be a retractable landing gear according to demand.

[0039] Optionally, an upper cover plate 10-1 and a lower cover plate 10-2 are respectively provided on the upper side and the lower side of the rotation connection between the middle wing 11 and the folding wing, and the upper cover plate 10-1 and the lower cover plate 10-2 are made of flexible materials that can be stretched and contracted.

[0040] Specifically, the two ends of the upper cover 10-1 and the two ends of the lower cover 10-2 are respectively connected to the middle wing 11 and the folding wing, which can shield and protect the folding drive mechanism 10. The upper cover 10-1 and the lower cover 10-2 are made of elastic material. When the folding wing is unfolded, the upper cover 10-1 is unfolded and the lower cover 10-2 is contracted. When the folding wing is folded, the upper cover 10-1 is contracted and the lower cover 10-2 is unfolded.

[0041] Optionally, a middle nacelle 3 is provided at the front side of the outer end of the middle wing 11 , and an end nacelle 8 is provided at the outer end of the folding wing.

[0042] Specifically, the middle cabin 3 is fixed to the front side of the outer end of the middle wing 11 for installing the front propeller, and the end cabin 8 is fixed to the outer end of the folding wing and arranged backward for installing the rear propeller, which moves with the folding and unfolding of the folding wing.

[0043] Optionally, a front power motor is provided in the fuselage 12 and the middle cabin 3, and the front propeller is connected to the front power motor. A rear power motor is provided in the end cabin 8, and the rear propeller is connected to the rear power motor. The rotation directions of the front power motor and the rear power motor are opposite.

[0044] Specifically, power motors are provided in the fuselage 12, the middle cabin 3 and the end airport, and the propellers are installed on the output shafts of the power motors and are driven to rotate by the power motors. When viewed from the rear side to the front side of the UAV, the rotation directions of all the propellers are the same.

[0045] Optionally, the folding drive mechanism 10 includes:

[0046] A rotating shaft 10-5, the rotating shaft 10-5 is fixedly connected to the folding wing, and a first gear 10-3 is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 10-5;

[0047] A mounting seat, the mounting seat is fixedly connected to the middle wing 11, a mounting hole is provided in the mounting seat, and the other end of the rotating shaft 10-5 is rotatably arranged in the mounting hole;

[0048] The driving motor 10-9 is fixedly connected to the middle wing 11, and the output end of the driving motor 10-9 is provided with a second gear 10-10 meshing with the first gear 10-3.

[0049] Specifically, the rotation of the drive motor 10-9 can drive the second gear 10-10 to rotate. Through the engagement of the second gear 10-10 with the first gear 10-3, the first gear 10-3 can be rotated, and then the folding wings can be driven to rotate around the rotating shaft 10-5, thereby realizing the folding and unfolding of the folding wings.

[0050] In this embodiment, the external structure of the foldable wing solar drone is arranged symmetrically on the left and right, the middle wing 11 is fixedly connected to the fuselage 12, and the two ends are connected to the folding drive mechanism 10 and the folding wings; the folding wings include a left folding wing 9 and a right folding wing 14.

[0051] In this embodiment, the rear propeller connected to the end nacelle 8 on the left folding wing 9, the front propeller connected to the middle nacelle 3 on the left middle wing 11, the front propeller connected to the front side of the fuselage 12, the front propeller connected to the middle nacelle 3 on the right middle wing 11, and the rear propeller connected to the end nacelle 8 on the right folding wing 14 are respectively the first propeller 1, the second propeller 2, the third propeller 5, the fourth propeller 6 and the fifth propeller 7.

[0052] Optionally, the rotating shaft 10-5 is fixedly connected to the folding wing via a connecting ear provided on the upper surface of the folding wing.

[0053] Specifically, the connecting ear is arranged on the upper surface of the folding wing, so that the rotating shaft 10-5 is fixed above the folding wing.

[0054] Optionally, two rotating shafts 10-5 are provided, two connecting ears are provided on the upper surface of the folding wing, the rotating shaft 10-5 is provided on the side where the two connecting ears are away from each other, and two mounting seats are provided on the upper surface of the middle wing 11, and the two mounting seats are located on the side where the two connecting ears are away from each other.

[0055] Specifically, the two connecting ears are the first connecting ear 10-4 and the second connecting ear 10-8, the two mounting seats are the first mounting seat 10-6 and the second mounting seat 10-7, and the two rotating shafts 10-5 are respectively inserted into the mounting holes on the two mounting seats, which can ensure the stability of the folding wings when folding and unfolding.

[0056] Optionally, the interior of the middle wing 11 and the folding wing is a hollow structure, and energy storage batteries, cables and airborne avionics equipment are arranged in the hollow structure.

[0057] Specifically, the middle wing 11 and the folding wing are both hollow, accommodating a storage battery pack connected to the solar panel 4 for storing electrical energy, and can also accommodate cable wiring and some airborne avionics equipment, thereby optimizing the internal space utilization of the drone.

[0058] In summary, when the foldable wing solar-powered UAV provided by the present invention is used, when the foldable wing solar-powered UAV takes off from the ground, the left folding wing 9 and the right folding wing 14 are folded, and after taking off and reaching a certain height from the ground, the flight control system controls the driving motor 10-9 of the folding drive mechanism 10 to rotate, so that the left folding wing 9 and the right folding wing 14 are unfolded; when the UAV lands, the flight control system controls the driving motor 10-9 of the folding drive mechanism 10 to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the left folding wing 9 and the right folding wing 14 are folded; the unfolding angle of the left folding wing 9, the right folding wing 14 and the middle wing 11 is controlled and adjusted by the flight control system. Such a wing folding scheme is suitable for solar-powered UAVs with similar configurations and different wingspans, which can improve the adaptability to the take-off and landing sites of the UAV, facilitate transportation and storage, and reduce the risk of damage to the UAV.

[0059] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, and the above description is exemplary, not exhaustive, and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A foldable wing solar-powered drone, characterized in that: include: A fuselage, wherein middle wings are arranged on both sides of the fuselage, and folding wings are rotatably connected to the two ends of the middle wings away from the fuselage respectively, and solar panels are arranged on the upper surfaces of the folding wings and the middle wings, and the folding wings extend along the wingspan direction of the middle wings when unfolded, and the upper surfaces of the folding wings are located above the upper surfaces of the middle wings when the folding wings are folded; A folding drive mechanism, the folding drive mechanism is arranged at the rotation connection between the middle wing and the folding wing, and the folding drive mechanism can drive the folding wing to rotate relative to the middle wing; A front propeller and a rear propeller, wherein the front propeller is arranged at the front side of the fuselage and the front side of the outer end of the middle wing, and the rear propeller is arranged at the rear side of the outer end of the folding wing.

2. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: Landing gears are arranged on the lower sides of the fuselage and the middle wing.

3. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: An upper cover plate and a lower cover plate are respectively arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the rotation connection between the middle wing and the folding wing, and the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate are made of flexible materials that can be extended and contracted.

4. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: A middle nacelle is arranged at the front side of the outer end of the middle wing, and an end nacelle is arranged at the outer end of the folding wing.

5. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 4, characterized in that: A front power motor is arranged in the fuselage and the middle cabin, the front propeller is connected to the front power motor, a rear power motor is arranged in the end cabin, the rear propeller is connected to the rear power motor, and the front power motor and the rear power motor rotate in opposite directions.

6. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The folding drive mechanism comprises: A rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the folding wing, and a first gear is disposed at one end of the rotating shaft; A mounting seat, the mounting seat is fixedly connected to the middle wing, a mounting hole is arranged in the mounting seat, and the other end of the rotating shaft is rotatably arranged in the mounting hole; A driving motor is fixedly connected to the middle wing, and an output end of the driving motor is provided with a second gear meshing with the first gear.

7. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 6, characterized in that: The rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the folding wing via a connecting ear arranged on the upper surface of the folding wing.

8. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 6, characterized in that: Two rotating shafts are provided, two connecting ears are provided on the upper surface of the folding wing, the rotating shaft is provided on the sides of the two connecting ears away from each other, and two mounting seats are provided on the upper surface of the middle wing, and the two mounting seats are located on the sides of the two connecting ears away from each other.

9. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interior of the middle wing and the folding wing is a hollow structure, and energy storage battery packs, cables and airborne avionics equipment are arranged in the hollow structure.

10. The foldable-wing solar-powered drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The folding angle of the folding wings is 0-180°.

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