Water unmanned aerial vehicle carrying platform facing water surface ship and carrying method

Abstract

The invention provides a water unmanned aerial vehicle carrying platform and carrying method for a water surface ship. The carrying method comprises the steps that a hangar and a spare part cabin and an aerial material cabin below the hangar are arranged to provide necessary space for storage and maintenance of a water unmanned aerial vehicle in the cabin; safe transferring and parking in a hangar are achieved through a travelling crane, a tractor, a movable tray, a rigging, a water surface unmanned aerial vehicle lifting connector and a mooring connector, and the problem of large-scale storage and maintenance of water unmanned aerial vehicles in water surface ships is solved. And by arranging an inner pool, a butt joint buoy, a water storage cabin, an inner pool gate and a water surface unmanned aerial vehicle traction interface, safe recovery and water surface throwing of the water surface unmanned aerial vehicle are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying on watercraft, and particularly to a water UAV carrying platform and a carrying method for watercraft on the water surface. Background Art

[0002] Water UAVs have the characteristics of high endurance and large payload, and are suitable for performing various tasks on the water. With the development of UAVs, water UAVs have become an important direction. However, currently water UAVs are mainly concentrated in the coastal areas for use, and do not have the ability to operate offshore for a long time, and no watercraft has the ability to carry a large number of water UAVs. Before World War I, a small number of watercraft carried manned seaplanes, but due to reasons such as the small payload, short range, and the easy fall of pilots into the water of manned seaplanes, the development of the mother ships of manned seaplanes stagnated with the development of short takeoff and landing wheeled technologies. Compared with the existing technical solutions, two important problems need to be solved for watercraft to carry water UAVs: One is the problem of mass storage and maintenance of water UAVs. Most of the watercraft carrying manned seaplanes during World War I were temporarily modified. The aircraft parking area was small and it was impossible to achieve mass storage. Moreover, the aircraft placed outdoors on the deck was easily damaged by strong winds and waves and was difficult to maintain.

[0003] The other is the problem of safe launching and recovery of water UAVs. Due to the influence of wind and waves on the sea, it is difficult for water UAVs to accurately dock with the hoisting equipment. At the same time, because long-endurance UAVs generally have a long wingspan, it will cause the traditional side hoisting force arm to be too long, which not only increases the size and weight of the hoisting equipment, but also improves the hoisting difficulty. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a water UAV carrying platform and a carrying method for watercraft on the water surface, so as to solve the defects existing in the prior art when watercraft carry water UAVs, solve the problems of mass storage and maintenance and safe launching and recovery of a large number of water UAVs, and support the long-term offshore operation of water UAV clusters.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a water UAV carrying platform for watercraft on the water surface, including a hangar, an inner pool, and a water UAV adaptation interface; The hangar is used for the residence and maintenance of water UAVs in the watercraft; The inner pool is used for the launching and recovery of water UAVs; The water UAV adaptation interface is used for the docking of water UAVs with the hangar and the inner pool.

[0006] According to the water UAV carrying platform for watercraft on the water surface provided by the present invention, the hangar includes a hangar deck, a variety of functional cabins, and a hangar transfer device; The hangar deck is located above the ship's waterline. A maintenance support area is provided at the front of the hangar. Multiple functional cabins are provided below the hangar. The tail of the hangar is connected to the inner pool. The hangar transfer equipment includes an overhead crane, a mobile pallet, a tractor, rigging, and a base. The overhead crane is installed across the cabins at the top of the hangar and the inner pool, enabling horizontal and vertical movement from the inner pool to the hangar deck. The mobile pallet and the tractor achieve horizontal movement within the hangar deck. The rigging and the base achieve the fastening of the unmanned surface vehicle on the hangar deck when it is stationary on the water.

[0007] According to an unmanned surface vehicle carrying platform for a surface ship provided by the present invention, the inner pool includes an inner pool deck, a winch, a docking buoy, an inner pool gate, and a water storage tank. The inner pool deck is located below the ship's waterline. An overhead crane shared with the hangar is installed at the top of the inner pool. The winch is located at the front of the inner pool, and the end of the winch is connected to the docking buoy. The inner pool gate is located at the tail of the inner pool, realizing the watertight isolation control between the water surface and the inner pool. The water storage tank is located at the front of the inner pool, and is used to drain water from the inner pool to push the unmanned surface vehicle in the pool out.

[0008] According to an unmanned surface vehicle carrying platform for a surface ship provided by the present invention, the unmanned surface vehicle adaptation interface includes a towing interface, a lifting interface, and a fastening interface. The towing interface is located at the front end of the unmanned surface vehicle adaptation interface, realizing connection with the docking buoy in the inner pool, and is used to tow the unmanned surface vehicle on the water surface. The lifting interface is located at the top end of the unmanned surface vehicle adaptation interface, realizing connection with the overhead crane in the hangar. The fastening interfaces are located on both sides of the unmanned surface vehicle adaptation interface, and together with the lifting interface, they realize the lifting of the unmanned surface vehicle in the cabin.

[0009] According to an unmanned surface vehicle carrying platform for a surface ship provided by the present invention, the width of the hangar is set to be greater than a preset width on both sides relative to the wingspan of the unmanned surface vehicle.

[0010] According to an unmanned surface vehicle carrying platform for a surface ship provided by the present invention, the unmanned surface vehicle is docked with the horn docking interface of the docking buoy through the towing interface, and is towed to the ship's water surface in the inner pool by the lead wire extended from the winch.

[0011] According to an unmanned surface vehicle carrying platform for a surface ship provided by the present invention, the mobile pallet is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle floating cabin, and the unmanned aerial vehicle floating cabin is prevented from sliding out through a preset high-friction material and a bracket. The tractor is connected to the mobile pallet through a towing rod, and tow the unmanned aerial vehicle floating cabin to move horizontally within the hangar deck.

[0012] An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying platform for a surface ship according to the present invention is connected by a rigging between an embedded base on the hangar deck and a fastening interface of the UAV on the water surface, so as to achieve the parking and fastening of the UAV on the hangar deck.

[0013] In a second aspect, the present invention further provides a method for carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle on a surface ship, including: When the UAV lands on the water surface, open the inner pool gate, release the docking buoy to the water surface through a winch, and connect the UAV adapter interface to the flared docking interface of the docking buoy; The winch drags the lead wire to move the UAV to the inner pool and close the inner pool gate; When the water surface in the inner pool is calm, connect the traveling crane to the lifting interface at the top of the UAV, and lift and place the UAV on the moving tray on the hangar deck; The tractor is docked with the moving tray, and the UAV is towed to move in the hangar. When reaching the target position, the rigging connects the fastening interface on the UAV and the embedded base on the hangar deck, so as to achieve the residence of the UAV on the surface ship.

[0014] A method for carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle on a surface ship according to the present invention includes: When the UAV needs to take off on the water surface, the tractor is docked with the tray under the UAV, and the rigging connecting the UAV is released; The tractor moves the UAV to the lifting area of the traveling crane, and the traveling crane is docked with the lifting interface of the UAV, and the UAV is transferred to the water surface in the inner pool; Open the inner pool gate, inject water from the front of the inner pool to make the water surface higher than the water surface outside the ship, push the UAV on the water surface out of the hull, and the UAV takes off after leaving the hull.

[0015] For the UAV carrying platform and the carrying method for a surface ship provided by the present invention, on the one hand, by providing a hangar and a spare parts warehouse and an aviation materials warehouse below the hangar, it provides necessary space for the storage and maintenance of the UAV in the cabin. Through the traveling crane, the tractor, the moving tray, the rigging, and the lifting interface and the fastening interface of the UAV on the water surface, it realizes safe transfer and parking in the hangar, and solves the problem of large - quantity storage and maintenance of the UAV in the surface ship. On the other hand, by providing an inner pool, a docking buoy, a water storage tank, an inner pool gate, and a towing interface for the UAV on the water surface, it realizes the safe recovery and water surface delivery of the UAV on the water surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the attached drawings required in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the attached drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other attached drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 It is the plan view of the hangar deck when the surface ship carries the unmanned aerial vehicle on water. Figure 2 It is the longitudinal sectional view of the main hull of the surface ship provided by the present invention. Figure 3 It is one of the schematic connection diagrams of the docking buoy between the unmanned aerial vehicle on water and the surface ship provided by the present invention. Figure 4 It is the other schematic connection diagram of the docking buoy between the unmanned aerial vehicle on water and the surface ship provided by the present invention. Figure 5 It is the schematic diagram of the traveling crane lifting the unmanned aerial vehicle on water provided by the present invention. Figure 6 It is the schematic diagram when the unmanned aerial vehicle on water is being towed on the hangar deck provided by the present invention. Figure 7 It is the schematic diagram when the unmanned aerial vehicle on water is being secured on the hangar deck provided by the present invention. Figure 8 It is the schematic diagram of the embedded base setting on the hangar deck provided by the present invention. Figure 9 It is the schematic diagram of the process for the unmanned aerial vehicle on water to enter the hangar and stay provided by the present invention. Figure 10 It is the schematic diagram of the process for the unmanned aerial vehicle on water to leave the hangar and take off provided by the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the present invention in conjunction with the attached drawings in the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Aiming at the limitations existing in the prior art, the present invention proposes an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying platform and a carrying method for surface ships, which solve the problems of large - batch storage, maintenance, safe deployment, and recovery of unmanned aerial vehicles on water, and support the unmanned aerial vehicle cluster to achieve long - term offshore operations.

[0020] The technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes three parts: a hangar, an inner pool, and an interface for adapting a waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle. The hangar mainly solves the problems of long-term residence and maintenance of the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle in a ship. The inner pool mainly solves the problems of launching and recovering the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle. The interface for adapting the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle solves the docking problems between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the equipment in the hangar and the inner pool.

[0021] As Figure 1 shown in the plan view of the hangar deck when a surface ship is carrying a waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle, the hangar deck is mainly provided with a hangar and an inner pool. The width of the hangar is greater than a certain width on both sides of the wingspan of the unmanned aerial vehicle, usually 2 meters, to ensure sufficient safety clearance.

[0022] The hangar is located above the waterline of the ship and adopts a straight-through large cabin design. A maintenance area is provided at the front of the hangar. Storage cabins such as a spare parts cabin and an aviation materials cabin are provided below the hangar. The tail of the hangar is connected to the inner pool. The hangar transfer equipment includes five parts: a traveling crane, a mobile pallet, a tractor, rigging, and a base. The traveling crane is installed across the cabins on the top of the hangar and the inner pool to achieve horizontal and vertical movement from the inner pool to the hangar deck. The mobile pallet and the tractor achieve horizontal movement within the hangar deck. The rigging and the base achieve the fastening of the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle on the hangar deck when it is stationary.

[0023] The inner pool deck is located below the waterline. A traveling crane shared with the hangar is installed on the top. A winch is installed at the front of the inner pool. The end of the winch is connected to a docking buoy. The tail of the inner pool is an inner pool gate, and the inner pool gate realizes the watertight isolation control between the water surface and the inner pool. A water storage tank is provided at the front of the inner pool, and the water storage tank discharges water into the inner pool to push the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle in the inner pool out.

[0024] As Figure 2 shown in the longitudinal sectional view of the main hull of the surface ship, the hangar deck is located 3 meters above the waterline, and the inner pool deck is located 1.5 meters below the water surface. An aviation materials cabin and a spare parts cabin are provided below the hangar. A traveling crane, a mobile pallet, a tractor, and rigging are provided in the hangar, and the traveling crane spans across the inner pool and the hangar. A winch, a docking buoy, and an inner pool gate are provided in the inner pool.

[0025] The interface for adapting the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle includes a towing interface connected to the docking buoy at the front end, a lifting interface connected to the traveling crane at the top end, and fastening interfaces on both sides, which respectively realize the dragging of the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle on the water surface and the lifting in the cabin.

[0026] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown in the connection schematic diagram between the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle and the docking buoy of the surface ship, the waterborne unmanned aerial vehicle is docked with the docking interface of the flared docking buoy through the towing interface and is towed into the inner pool of the surface ship by the lead wire extended by the winch.

[0027] As Figure 5As shown in the figure, it is a schematic diagram of a traveling crane lifting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on water. The traveling crane uses a sling to connect to the UAV lifting interface and hoists the UAV on water from the inner pool surface for transfer.

[0028] As Figure 6 shown in the figure, it is a schematic diagram of the UAV being towed on the hangar deck. The mobile pallet docks with the UAV float cabin, and high-friction materials and brackets are used to prevent it from slipping out. The tractor is connected to the mobile pallet through a towing bar to pull the UAV to achieve horizontal movement within the hangar deck.

[0029] As Figure 7 shown in the figure, it is a schematic diagram of the UAV being secured on the hangar deck. The rigging connects the embedded base on the hangar deck and the securing interface on the UAV to achieve the parking and securing of the UAV on the hangar deck.

[0030] As Figure 8 shown, the position of the embedded base can be increased and adjusted according to requirements to achieve flexible adjustment of the UAV parking position in the hangar.

[0031] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the UAV warehousing and staying process provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 9 shown, it includes: Step 101: When the UAV lands on the water surface, open the inner pool gate, release the docking buoy to the water surface through the winch, and connect the UAV adapter interface to the flared docking interface of the docking buoy; Step 102: The winch drags the lead wire to move the UAV to the inner pool and close the inner pool gate; Step 103: When the water surface in the inner pool is calm, connect the traveling crane to the lifting interface at the top of the UAV and hoist the UAV onto the mobile pallet on the hangar deck; Step 104: The tractor docks with the mobile pallet, tow the UAV to move within the hangar. When reaching the target position, the rigging connects the securing interface on the UAV and the embedded base on the hangar deck to achieve the staying of the UAV on the water vessel.

[0032] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present invention, in combination with the waterborne UAV carrying platform, the process for the waterborne UAV to enter the warehouse and stay is as follows: When the waterborne UAV lands on the water surface, the watercraft opens the inner pool gate, releases the docking buoy to the water surface through the winch, and the mating interface of the waterborne UAV is docked with the flared docking interface of the docking buoy to achieve connection. The winch drags the lead wire to move the waterborne UAV into the inner pool, and the inner pool gate is closed to reduce the influence of water surface fluctuations. When the water surface in the inner pool is calm, the traveling crane is connected to the lifting interface at the top of the waterborne UAV, and the waterborne UAV is lifted and placed on the moving tray on the hangar deck. The tractor is docked with the moving tray, and the tractor pulls the waterborne UAV to move inside the hangar. When reaching the target position, the rigging connects the securing interface on the waterborne UAV and the base on the hangar deck to achieve the stay of the waterborne UAV on the watercraft.

[0033] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the process for the waterborne UAV to leave the warehouse and take off provided by the embodiments of the present invention. As Figure 10 shown, it includes: Step 201: When the waterborne UAV needs to take off on the water surface, the tractor docks with the tray under the waterborne UAV and releases the rigging connected to the waterborne UAV. Step 202: The tractor moves the waterborne UAV to the lifting area of the traveling crane, and the traveling crane is docked with the lifting interface of the waterborne UAV to transfer the waterborne UAV to the water surface in the inner pool. Step 203: The inner pool gate is opened, water is injected from the front of the inner pool to make the water surface higher than the water surface outside the ship, and the water surface UAV is pushed out of the hull. After leaving the hull, the waterborne UAV takes off.

[0034] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present invention, in combination with the waterborne UAV carrying platform, the process for the waterborne UAV to leave the warehouse and take off is as follows: When the waterborne UAV needs to take off on the water surface, the tractor docks with the tray under the waterborne UAV, releases the rigging connected to the waterborne UAV, the tractor moves the waterborne UAV to the lifting area of the traveling crane, the traveling crane is docked with the lifting interface of the waterborne UAV to transfer the waterborne UAV to the water surface in the inner pool, the inner pool gate is opened, water is injected from the front of the inner pool to make the water surface higher than the water surface outside the ship, and the water surface UAV is pushed out of the hull. After leaving the hull, the waterborne UAV takes off.

[0035] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement it without creative efforts.

[0036] Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware. Based on such an understanding, the essence of the above technical solution, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in each embodiment or some parts of the embodiments.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water drone carrying platform facing a surface ship, characterized in that: Includes hangar, inner pool and water drone adapters; The hangar is used for the stationing and maintenance of water drones on board ships; The inner pool is used for launching and recovering drones on water; The water drone adapter interface is used for docking the water drone with the hangar and inner pool.

2. The water-based UAV carrying platform facing a surface ship according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hangar includes a hangar deck, various functional cabins and hangar transfer equipment; The hangar deck is located above the waterline of the ship. The front of the hangar is equipped with a maintenance area, and a variety of functional cabins are set below the hangar. The rear of the hangar is connected to the inner pool. The hangar transfer equipment includes a crane, a mobile pallet, a tractor, rigging and a base. The crane is installed across the cabin on the top of the hangar and the inner pool to achieve horizontal and vertical movement from the inner pool to the hangar deck. The mobile pallet and tractor achieve horizontal movement within the hangar deck. The rigging and base enable the water drone to be secured on the hangar deck when it is stationary.

3. The water-based UAV carrying platform facing a surface ship according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner pool includes the inner pool deck, winch, docking buoy, inner pool gate and water storage tank; The inner pool deck is located below the waterline of the ship, and a crane shared with the hangar is installed on the top of the inner pool; The capstan is located at the front of the inner pool, and the end of the capstan is connected to the docking buoy; The inner pool gate is located at the tail of the inner pool to achieve watertight isolation control between the water surface and the inner pool; The water storage tank is located at the front of the inner pool and is used to release water into the inner pool to push the water drone out of the pool.

4. The water-based UAV carrying platform facing a surface ship according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adaption interface of the water drone includes a towing interface, a lifting interface and a fastening interface; The traction interface is located at the front end of the water drone adapter interface, which is connected to the docking buoy of the inner pool and is used to drag the water drone on the water surface; The lifting interface is located at the top of the water drone adapter interface to connect with the hangar's driving; The fastening interface is located on both sides of the water drone adapter interface, and together with the lifting interface, it realizes the lifting of the water drone in the cabin.

5. The water-based UAV carrying platform facing a surface ship according to claim 2, characterized in that: The hangar width is set to be larger than the preset width on both sides relative to the wingspan of the water drone.

6. The water-based UAV carrying platform facing a surface ship according to claim 3, characterized in that: The water drone is docked with the horn docking interface of the docking buoy through the towing interface, and is towed to the surface of the ship in the inner pool by the lead extended from the winch.

7. The water-based UAV carrying platform facing a surface ship according to claim 2, characterized in that: The mobile tray is docked with the drone pod, and the drone pod is prevented from sliding out by pre-setting high friction materials and brackets; The tractor is connected to the mobile pallet through a towing rod, and tows the UAV floating cabin horizontally within the hangar deck.

8. The water-based UAV carrying platform facing a surface ship according to claim 2, characterized in that: The embedded base on the hangar deck and the fastening interface of the water drone are connected by rigging to achieve the parking and fastening of the water drone to the hangar deck.

9. A method for carrying a water drone on a surface ship, based on the water drone carrying platform for a surface ship as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: include: When the water drone lands on the water, the inner pool door is opened, and the docking buoy is released to the water surface by a winch, and the water drone adapter interface is connected to the trumpet-shaped docking interface of the docking buoy; The winch drags the lead to move the water drone to the inner pool and close the inner pool door; When the water surface of the inner pool is calm, the crane is connected to the lifting interface on the top of the water drone, and the water drone is lifted and placed on the mobile pallet on the hangar deck; The tractor docks with the mobile pallet and tows the water drone to move in the hangar. When it reaches the target location, the rigging connects the fastening interface on the water drone and the embedded base on the hangar deck to enable the water drone to stay on the surface ship.

10. The method for mounting a water drone on a surface ship according to claim 9, characterized in that: include: When the water drone needs to take off on the water, the tractor docks with the tray under the water drone and releases the rigging connected to the water drone; The tractor moves the water drone to the crane lifting area, the crane docks with the water drone lifting interface, and the water drone is transferred to the water surface of the inner pool; The inner pool door is opened, and water is poured from the front of the inner pool to make the water level higher than the water surface outside the ship, pushing the surface drone out of the hull. After leaving the hull, the water drone takes off.

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