Fire-fighting and cleaning mode quick switching tethered unmanned aerial vehicle operation system and switching method

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicle operation equipment, and discloses a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle operation system and a switching method for quickly switching between fire-fighting and cleaning modes. The operation system comprises a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle main body, an airborne operation mounting system, a roof supply assembly and a tethered composite cable; the roof supply assembly comprises a fire-fighting water tank, a cleaning liquid tank, a medium selection assembly and a power supply assembly; the airborne operation mounting system comprises a mounting switching assembly, a fire-fighting operation module, a cleaning operation module, a positioning locking assembly, a buffer adaptation assembly, an interface communication assembly and a control assembly. The mounting switching assembly is used for selectively enabling the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module to enter a working position, and the interface communication assembly and the medium selection assembly are used for realizing corresponding passage communication and liquid source switching, so that the fire-fighting mode and the cleaning mode can be switched without landing of the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle, and the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle is suitable for long-time continuous fire-fighting operation and cleaning operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation equipment technology, and more particularly to a tethered UAV operation system and switching method for rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes. More specifically, it relates to a tethered UAV operation system and switching method that utilizes a fire water tank, cleaning fluid tank, power supply components, and tethering composite cable pre-installed on a rooftop or other support platform to continuously provide the aerial tethered UAV with operating medium, electrical energy, and control signals, and achieves rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning operation modules through an airborne operation mounting system. Background Technology

[0002] As the application of drone technology continues to expand in scenarios such as high-altitude emergency response, building facade maintenance, and industrial facility surface operations, utilizing drones for firefighting and cleaning operations has become an important direction for related technological development. Especially in areas such as high-rise buildings, tank exteriors, and curtain wall surfaces, using drones for spray fire extinguishing, flushing, washing, or scrubbing operations can reduce the risk of personnel exposure at height, improve operational mobility, and expand the reach.

[0003] Existing technologies already include drone devices that simultaneously handle firefighting and cleaning applications. For example, Chinese patent CN212074436U discloses a "Drone-based Firefighting or High-Rise Building Exterior Wall Cleaning Device," which includes a frame, high-pressure water gun, hose and cable support column, cable interface, dedicated hose interface, secondary pressurization pump, and telescopic rod, etc., and can be used for firefighting or high-rise building exterior wall cleaning operations. This type of technology indicates that the idea of ​​combining a spraying device, water supply pipeline, and power supply line on a drone platform to perform firefighting or cleaning operations has been proposed.

[0004] Meanwhile, existing technologies have developed solutions for long-term continuous operation of tethered drones, focusing on both firefighting and cleaning. For example, Chinese patent CN217854231U discloses a "tethered drone system for high-rise building firefighting and its firefighting system," which connects the tethered drone in the air to ground support equipment via a tether cable, continuously supplying the drone with power, fire extinguishing medium, and control signals to achieve long-term high-altitude hovering and uninterrupted firefighting operations. Chinese patent CN216140181U discloses a "high-altitude cleaning system based on a tethered multi-rotor drone," which includes a drone body, a tethering device, and a water supply device. The tethering device includes a power supply and cable, while the water supply device includes a storage tank, a pump, and connecting water pipes to ensure uninterrupted supply of cleaning fluid and long-term aerial cleaning operations by the drone. Therefore, using tethering to address the problems of insufficient drone endurance, limited fluid carrying capacity, and difficulties in long-term operation has a certain technological foundation in related fields.

[0005] Furthermore, existing technologies already include rapid interface solutions for drone mounting and payload replacement. For example, Chinese patent CN215884092U discloses a "rapid interface for drone mounting," which includes a mounting base and a mounting connector. The mounting base has a sliding groove and a locking mechanism, one end of the mounting connector has a plug, and the mounting base has a corresponding socket, thereby simultaneously achieving rapid insertion, locking, and power and data connection during mounting. This type of technology demonstrates that structural designs for rapid mounting, locking, and electrical connection of drone payloads have also been disclosed.

[0006] However, existing technologies are still mainly designed for one aspect of firefighting, cleaning, tethered supply, or quick-attachment interfaces, and have not yet adequately addressed the following issues: First, existing dual-scenario devices tend to use the same spray device for both firefighting and cleaning purposes, or are designed separately for a single task in firefighting or cleaning, lacking an airborne operational attachment system suitable for tethered drones that can quickly switch between firefighting and cleaning modes on the same flight platform; Second, existing tethered firefighting and tethered cleaning solutions typically have independent supply and operation structures, failing to achieve rapid switching between firefighting water and cleaning fluid using the same rooftop supply component, the same tethered composite cable, and the same airborne operational attachment system; Third, existing quick-attachment interface solutions mainly address attachment efficiency, locking reliability, and power and data connectivity issues, failing to further address the guiding and positioning, locking, fluid supply connection, fluid source switching, and control coordination issues of the target operation module during the switching between firefighting and cleaning modes.

[0007] Furthermore, in applications requiring continuous hovering, such as on the facades of high-rise buildings, complex industrial facilities, and other locations, using tethered drones with pre-installed fire water tanks, cleaning fluid tanks, and connected supply lines and power lines on rooftops or other support platforms allows the drones to continuously obtain the working medium and power supply for extended periods, enabling long-term continuous firefighting or cleaning operations. However, in such continuous operation scenarios, existing technologies still lack targeted and systematic solutions for rapidly switching between firefighting and cleaning modules on the same tethered drone platform, maintaining the target module's position, ensuring corresponding interface connectivity, and switching the supply of fire water and cleaning fluid during the switching process.

[0008] Therefore, it is still necessary to provide a tethered drone operation system and switching method for rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes. This would enable tethered drones to quickly switch between firefighting and cleaning modes on the same platform, in conjunction with pre-installed fire water tanks and cleaning fluid tanks on the roof, tethered composite cables, and airborne operation mounting systems. It would also take into account the switching of target operation modules to the correct position, guidance and positioning, locking and holding, interface connectivity, and fluid source switching control, thereby improving the continuity of operation, adaptability to operating conditions, and system reliability of tethered drones in multi-task continuous operation scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Purpose of the invention:

[0010] The purpose of this invention is to address the problems in existing technologies, such as the use of separate UAV systems or independent operating devices for firefighting and cleaning operations, the difficulty in quickly switching between firefighting and cleaning modes on the same UAV platform, the inconvenience of switching between different operating media under tethered supply conditions, the cumbersome process of guidance, positioning, and interface establishment after switching operating modules, and the lack of system coordination and reliability during continuous hovering operations. This invention provides a tethered UAV operating system and switching method for rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes. This allows the tethered UAV to quickly switch between firefighting and cleaning modes on the same platform, in conjunction with pre-installed fire water tanks, cleaning fluid tanks, power supply components, and tethered composite cables on rooftops or other support platforms. During the switching process, the system completes the entry of the target operating module into the working position, guidance, locking, corresponding interface connection, and fluid source switching control. This improves the continuity, adaptability, and system reliability of tethered UAVs in high-rise buildings, facade maintenance, and other multi-task continuous operation scenarios.

[0011] Technical solution:

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0013] This invention provides a tethered drone operation system for rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes. The system includes a tethered drone body, an onboard operation mounting system mounted on the tethered drone body, a rooftop supply component mounted on a building rooftop and / or other support platform, and a tethered composite cable connecting the rooftop supply component and the onboard operation mounting system. The rooftop supply component includes at least a fire water tank, a cleaning fluid tank, a media selection component, and a power supply component. The tethered composite cable includes at least a fluid supply path and a power supply control path, used to continuously provide the operating medium, electrical energy, and control signals to the aerial platform during drone hovering operations, thereby enabling the tethered drone to perform long-term continuous firefighting or long-term continuous cleaning operations. Preferably, the tethered composite cable includes a flexible fluid supply pipe and a cable bundle arranged parallel to the flexible fluid supply pipe, the cable bundle being used to transmit power and control signals. The flexible fluid supply pipe and cable bundle can be arranged in parallel, with an integrated sheath, or other combinations suitable for tethered suspension conditions, to balance fluid supply capacity, power supply stability, and flexibility during hovering operations.

[0014] The airborne operation mounting system includes an airborne mounting section, a mounting switching component, a firefighting operation module, a cleaning operation module, a positioning and locking component, a buffer adapter component, an interface connection component, and a control component. The airborne mounting section connects to the tethered UAV body and provides a mounting base for each functional component. The mounting switching component, mounted on the airborne mounting section, carries the firefighting operation module and the cleaning operation module, allowing either module to selectively enter a working position. The firefighting operation module performs fire spraying operations, while the cleaning operation module performs cleaning fluid spraying, rinsing, and / or brushing operations. The positioning and locking component guides, positions, and locks the target operation module after it enters the working position, ensuring a stable positional relationship. The buffer adapter component reduces the impact during switching and the transmission of vibrations or force disturbances generated during operation to the tethered UAV body. The interface connection component establishes fluid supply, power supply, and control connections corresponding to the target operation module after it is in the working position. The control component is used to control the coordinated operation of the mounting switching component, positioning locking component, interface connection component, and media selection component to achieve switching between fire-fighting mode and cleaning mode.

[0015] In this invention, the rooftop supply component and the airborne operation mounting system are not independently configured, but rather form an integrated, continuous supply relationship through a tethered composite cable. Preferably, in firefighting mode, the medium selection component connects the fire water tank to the supply path in the tethered composite cable to continuously supply fire-fighting water to the fire-fighting operation module in its working position via an interface connection component; in cleaning mode, the medium selection component connects the cleaning fluid tank to the supply path in the tethered composite cable to continuously supply cleaning fluid to the cleaning operation module in its working position via an interface connection component. Through this configuration, the switching and continuous supply of different operating media can be completed on the same aerial platform without relying on a large-capacity airborne liquid storage structure on the UAV, thus adapting to the needs of long-term continuous operation. Preferably, the medium selection component includes two supply branches connected to the fire water tank and the cleaning fluid tank respectively, control valves installed on each supply branch, and a manifold interface connected to the supply path in the tethered composite cable; the control component is used to control the opening and closing of the corresponding control valves, so that the fire water tank is connected to the supply path in firefighting mode, and the cleaning fluid tank is connected to the supply path in cleaning mode. If necessary, check valves and / or filters can be installed on the two liquid supply branches to improve the stability of the liquid supply and the reliability of the pathway during the liquid source switching process.

[0016] Furthermore, the mounting and switching assembly preferably includes a support base and a switching drive component. The firefighting operation module and the cleaning operation module are alternately arranged on the support base. The switching drive component drives the support base to move along a predetermined switching path, so that the firefighting operation module and the cleaning operation module alternately enter the working position, and the other operation module not in the working position is placed in a standby position or a avoidance position. The predetermined switching path can be set according to the overall layout of the tethered UAV body, the size and mass distribution of the operation modules, and the lead-out position of the tethered composite cable, so as to reduce the adverse effects on the center of gravity, attitude stability and tethered state of the UAV during the switching process. The mounting and switching assembly can adopt rotation switching, flip switching, swing switching or other mechanisms that can achieve selective entry of the two modules into the working position. This invention is not limited to a specific mechanical configuration.

[0017] Furthermore, to improve the positioning accuracy and operational stability of the target work module after it enters the working position, the positioning and locking assembly preferably includes a pre-positioning component and a locking component. The pre-positioning component is used to guide and correct the target work module as it approaches the working position, thereby reducing the relative deviation between the target work module and the working position. The locking component is used to lock and hold the target work module after it reaches the working position, thereby preventing adverse displacement, deflection, or loosening of the target work module during operation. By setting the guiding positioning and locking holding processes separately, the process of the work module entering the working state from the switching state can be made smoother, which is beneficial to improving the interface docking accuracy and operational reliability after mode switching.

[0018] Furthermore, to adapt to the differences in stress characteristics between firefighting and cleaning operations, the buffer adapter component has different adaptation functions in different modes. In firefighting mode, the buffer adapter component preferably provides relatively high rigidity support to adapt to the reaction force disturbance during fire spraying operations and reduce the impact of the spraying process on the attitude stability of the tethered UAV. In cleaning mode, the buffer adapter component preferably provides relatively high compliance buffering capacity to adapt to contact vibration and local impact during near-wall cleaning operations, enabling the cleaning module to have a certain degree of compliance with small-range relative displacement and contact disturbances while maintaining overall controllable working position. Through the above settings, the problem that a single support characteristic cannot simultaneously accommodate both firefighting and cleaning operations can be avoided, thereby improving the adaptability of the same airborne operation mounting system to multiple working conditions.

[0019] Furthermore, to reduce repetitive connection operations after mode switching and improve the system's continuous operation capability, the interface connectivity component preferably includes an airborne interface terminal located at the working position and module interface terminals respectively located on the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module. When the target operation module enters the working position and completes guiding positioning and locking, the airborne interface terminal connects with the corresponding module interface terminal to establish a liquid supply connection, power supply connection, and control connection corresponding to the target operation module. Preferably, the interface connectivity component has one or more functions of guiding, preventing misconnection, sealing, and preventing leakage, and the liquid supply connection is a self-sealing quick-connect liquid circuit. Through the above settings, different operation modules can quickly enter their corresponding working states after switching, reducing manual intervention and repeated confirmation processes, while also reducing the risks of interface misconnection, unstable circuits, or media leakage.

[0020] Furthermore, the control component is used to coordinate the timing of various functional components, ensuring a coordinated relationship between the switching process of the work module, the interface establishment process, and the liquid source switching process. Preferably, the control component is configured to switch according to the following timing control mode: controlling the current work module to exit the working state, cutting off at least a portion of the liquid supply connection and / or control connection corresponding to the current work module, releasing the current position lock, controlling the action of the mounting switching component to allow another work module to enter the working position, completing guidance positioning and locking maintenance, establishing the liquid supply connection, power supply connection, and control connection corresponding to the target work module, and controlling the media selection component to switch the corresponding liquid source to open the working permission of the target work module. Through the above control method, the switching process between fire-fighting mode and cleaning mode can be kept continuous and orderly, reducing operational instability caused by mismatch in switching steps.

[0021] This invention also provides a method for mode switching in a tethered drone operation system that utilizes the aforementioned rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes. The method includes the following steps: controlling the current operation module to stop operation; disconnecting at least a portion of the liquid supply connection and / or control connection corresponding to the current operation module, and releasing the current operation module from its locked state; controlling the mounting switching component to activate, causing another operation module to enter the working position; guiding, positioning, and locking the target operation module that has entered the working position using a positioning locking component; establishing a liquid supply connection, power supply connection, and control connection corresponding to the target operation module using an interface connection component; switching the liquid supply path to the liquid source corresponding to the target operation module using a media selection component; and controlling the target operation module to enter the corresponding firefighting mode or cleaning mode. Preferably, before granting operation permission to the target operation module, it is also possible to detect whether the target operation module is in position, whether the locking is complete, and whether the interface connection is normal. Operation permission for the target operation module is only granted when the detection results meet predetermined operation conditions. Preferably, the above-mentioned mode switching process can be completed without the main body of the tethered UAV landing, and after the mode switching, the working medium is continuously supplied to the target working module in the working position by the fire water tank or the cleaning fluid tank through the tethered composite cable, so as to realize long-term continuous fire fighting or long-term continuous cleaning operation.

[0022] Beneficial effects:

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0024] This invention systematically integrates rooftop supply components, tethered composite cables, and airborne operation mounting systems, enabling tethered drones to continuously receive fire-fighting water or cleaning fluid, as well as power and control signals while hovering. This eliminates the primary reliance on onboard fluid storage capacity for operations. Compared to traditional non-tethered drones that require frequent refueling or are limited by onboard fluid capacity, this invention is more suitable for applications such as high-rise building facades, complex industrial facility surfaces, and other scenarios requiring prolonged continuous hovering, significantly improving continuous operation capabilities.

[0025] This invention, by setting up firefighting and cleaning modules on the same tethered drone platform and utilizing a mounting switching component to allow both to selectively enter their working positions, enables rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes. This avoids the time consumption and procedural complexity associated with traditional technologies that require configuring two separate drone systems or relying on manual disassembly and replacement of mounting devices. Especially in continuous mission scenarios where fire suppression requires spraying followed by surface washing or cleaning maintenance, this invention improves platform reuse efficiency and mission coordination efficiency.

[0026] This invention, by incorporating a positioning and locking component, enables the target working module to complete guiding positioning and locking after entering the working position, thereby improving the positioning accuracy and operational stability after switching. Since both fire spraying and near-wall cleaning have high requirements for the relative positional relationship of the modules, this structure helps reduce spraying errors, interface misalignment, and operational instability caused by module positioning deviations, loosening, or deflection.

[0027] This invention, by incorporating a buffer adapter component, enables the same airborne operational mounting system to adapt to the differences in stress characteristics between firefighting and cleaning modes. In firefighting mode, the buffer adapter component provides relatively high rigidity support to reduce the impact of jet reaction force disturbances on the attitude stability of the tethered UAV. In cleaning mode, the buffer adapter component provides relatively high compliance buffering capacity to better adapt to contact vibrations and localized impacts during near-wall cleaning operations. Therefore, this invention enhances adaptability to various operational conditions.

[0028] This invention, by incorporating interface connectivity and media selection components, enables the target operating module to establish corresponding liquid supply, power supply, and control connections upon entering its working position. Furthermore, it allows for liquid source switching between the fire water tank and the cleaning fluid tank. Compared to existing solutions that only address quick-release mounting or single liquid circuit connections, this invention simultaneously completes the switching of the operating module and the liquid supply medium during mode switching. This reduces manual intervention and repetitive confirmation operations, lowers the risk of interface misconnections, media leakage, or switching mismatches, thereby improving the overall reliability of the system.

[0029] This invention also coordinates the timing of load switching, guidance and positioning, locking and holding, interface connection, and liquid source switching through control components, making the switching process between firefighting mode and cleaning mode more continuous and orderly. This systematic control method facilitates mode switching without the tethered drone body landing, thereby further reducing downtime and improving the efficiency and engineering practicality in multi-task continuous operation scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the tethered drone operation system for rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the airborne operation mounting system of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the fire-fighting and cleaning mode switching method of the present invention.

[0033] The component names corresponding to each number in the diagram are as follows: 1. Tethered UAV body; 2. Airborne operation mounting system; 21. Airborne installation unit; 22. Mounting switching component; 23. Firefighting operation module; 24. Cleaning operation module; 25. Positioning and locking component; 26. Buffer adapter component; 27. Interface connection component; 28. Control component; 3. Rooftop supply component; 31. Fire water tank; 32. Cleaning fluid tank; 33. Medium selection component; 34. Power supply component; 4. Tethered composite cable. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that the following embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Equivalent substitutions, conventional modifications, or corresponding adjustments made by those skilled in the art based on this specification without departing from the concept of the present invention should all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] This invention provides a tethered drone operation system for rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes. The system includes a tethered drone body, an airborne operation mounting system mounted on the tethered drone body, a rooftop supply component mounted on a building rooftop and / or other support platform, and a tethered composite cable connecting the rooftop supply component and the airborne operation mounting system. The rooftop supply component includes at least a fire water tank, a cleaning fluid tank, a media selection component, and a power supply component; the tethered composite cable includes at least a fluid supply path and a power supply control path, used to continuously provide the aerial platform with the operating medium, electrical energy, and control signals during drone hovering operations. The airborne operation mounting system includes an airborne mounting section, a mounting switching component, a firefighting operation module, a cleaning operation module, a positioning and locking component, a buffer adapter component, an interface connection component, and a control component. The airborne mounting section connects to the tethered UAV body and provides a mounting base for related functional components; the mounting and switching assembly carries the firefighting operation module and the cleaning operation module, allowing either one to selectively enter the working position; the positioning and locking assembly guides, positions, and locks the target operation module after it enters the working position; the buffer adapter assembly reduces the impact during the switching process and the transmission of vibrations or force disturbances generated during operation to the tethered UAV body; the interface connection assembly establishes the corresponding liquid supply connection, power supply connection, and control connection with the target operation module after it is in the working position; and the control assembly controls the coordinated operation of the mounting and switching assembly, the positioning and locking assembly, the interface connection assembly, and the media selection assembly to achieve the switching between firefighting mode and cleaning mode.

[0036] In this invention, the rooftop supply component and the airborne operation mounting system form a continuous supply relationship via a tethered composite cable. In firefighting mode, the medium selection component connects the fire water tank to the liquid supply path in the tethered composite cable, continuously supplying firefighting water to the firefighting operation module in its working position via the interface connection component. In cleaning mode, the medium selection component connects the cleaning fluid tank to the liquid supply path in the tethered composite cable, continuously supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning operation module in its working position via the interface connection component. Thus, the tethered UAV can complete long-term continuous firefighting spraying operations or long-term continuous cleaning operations without relying on a large-capacity airborne liquid storage device.

[0037] Example 1: Continuous Operation with Dual Liquid Source Supply on Rooftop via Rotary Switching

[0038] The feature of this embodiment is that the rooftop supply component is equipped with both a fire water tank and a cleaning fluid tank, and the airborne operation mounting system adopts a rotation switching method, so that the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module can switch positions around the rotation center set on the airborne mounting part, thus making it suitable for continuous operation scenarios where the facade of a high-rise building needs to be fire-fighted first and then cleaned or cleaned first and then fire-fighted.

[0039] In this embodiment, the rooftop supply component is located at the top of the building. The fire water tank and the cleaning fluid tank are connected to the media selection component via corresponding pipelines. The output end of the media selection component is connected to the fluid supply path in the tethered composite cable. The power supply component supplies power to the tethered UAV body and the airborne operation mounting system via the power supply control path in the tethered composite cable. The tethered composite cable extends downwards from the rooftop to the tethered UAV body in the air to continuously provide power, fire water, or cleaning fluid during UAV hovering. To improve operational continuity, the fire water tank and the cleaning fluid tank can be pre-stored with sufficient working media according to mission requirements, thereby reducing the frequency of manual intervention during operations.

[0040] The airborne mounting section is fixedly installed on the lower part of the tethered UAV body, and the mounting switching assembly is installed below the airborne mounting section. The mounting switching assembly includes a support base and a switching drive component. The fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module are respectively located at different support positions on the support base, and have a relatively concentrated mass distribution relative to the tethered UAV body to reduce the overall center of gravity change before and after switching. The fire-fighting operation module is used to perform fire-fighting spraying operations, and the cleaning operation module is used to perform cleaning fluid spraying and rinsing operations. Preferably, the fire-fighting operation module includes a spray head and a liquid inlet interface communicating with the spray head. After the fire-fighting operation module enters the working position, the liquid inlet interface establishes a liquid supply connection with the interface communication component to perform continuous spraying fire extinguishing operations. The spray head can be one of a direct spray head, a fan-shaped spray head, or atomizing spray head to adapt to different fire-fighting spraying requirements. The mounting switching assembly operates under the control of the control component, causing the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module to alternately enter the working position along a predetermined switching path, and placing the other module not participating in the current operation in a standby position or a avoidance position.

[0041] When the system is in fire-fighting mode, the medium selection component connects the fire water tank to the liquid supply path, and the fire-fighting operation module is in the working position. The interface connection component establishes liquid supply, power supply, and control connections with the fire-fighting operation module. The positioning and locking component guides, positions, and locks the fire-fighting operation module to ensure high positional stability during the spraying of fire-fighting water. At this time, the buffer adaptation component is in a support state adapted to the fire-fighting mode to reduce the impact of jet reaction force and pulsating load on the attitude of the tethered UAV.

[0042] When fire spraying is completed and it is time to switch to cleaning mode, the control component first controls the fire operation module to stop operating and disconnects at least a portion of the liquid supply connection and / or control connection corresponding to the fire operation module; then it releases the current position lock and controls the mounting switching component to move, so that the cleaning operation module enters the working position along the predetermined path; when the cleaning operation module approaches the working position, the pre-positioning component of the positioning locking component guides and corrects it, and after the cleaning operation module reaches the working position, the locking component locks and holds it; then, the interface connection component establishes the corresponding liquid supply connection, power supply connection and control connection with the cleaning operation module, and the medium selection component switches the liquid supply path from the fire water tank to the cleaning liquid tank. After the predetermined operating conditions are met, the control component grants the operating permission of the cleaning operation module, so that the cleaning operation module enters the working state.

[0043] The advantage of this embodiment is that both the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module are set on the same airborne operation mounting system, and the working medium and power are continuously obtained through the rooftop supply component and the mooring composite cable. There is no need to land the drone between different tasks and perform manual disassembly, resupply of liquid or power, which helps to improve the continuity of high-altitude operations and the platform utilization efficiency.

[0044] Example 2: Near-wall cleaning buffer conformity example

[0045] The feature of this embodiment is that the buffer adapter has a high degree of compliance and buffering capability in the cleaning mode, which enables the cleaning operation module to better adapt to the near-wall operation requirements of building facades, curtain wall surfaces or other facility surfaces.

[0046] In this embodiment, the cleaning module is preferably used to perform one or more of the following operations: spraying, rinsing, and brushing. Its working position is set to facilitate proximity to the work surface. During near-wall cleaning, there are usually changes in distance, local disturbances, and impacts from airflow, wall-reflected liquid flow, or local contact between the tethered drone and the work surface. If a single high-rigidity support method is used, the cleaning module is prone to transmitting significant impacts to the tethered drone when encountering uneven surfaces, airflow disturbances, or local contact, which is detrimental to the overall hovering stability of the drone.

[0047] Therefore, in this embodiment, the buffer adapter component is preferably located on the load transmission path and provides relatively high compliant buffering capability in the cleaning mode, allowing the cleaning module to adapt to small-range vibrations, local impacts, and limited relative displacements while maintaining overall controllable working position. Specifically, when the cleaning module switches from the standby position to the working position, the positioning and locking component guides and locks it, but this holding relationship is mainly used to maintain the cleaning module in a controllable working state, rather than simply pursuing complete rigid fixation. After the cleaning module enters the working position, the interface connection component establishes corresponding liquid supply connection, power supply connection, and control connection with it, and the media selection component connects the cleaning fluid tank to the liquid supply path, so that the cleaning fluid spraying, rinsing, or brushing actions can be carried out stably.

[0048] When switching back from cleaning mode to fire-fighting mode, the control component first controls the cleaning module to exit the working state and disconnects or cuts off at least a portion of the corresponding passages. Then, it controls the mounting switching component to activate the fire-fighting module, establishing its corresponding working conditions through the positioning locking component and interface connection component. Simultaneously, the control medium selection component switches the liquid supply passage to the fire water tank. Because the buffer adaptation component has different adaptation effects in fire-fighting and cleaning modes, the same airborne operation mounting system can meet the different operational requirements of both modes.

[0049] The advantage of this embodiment is that it addresses the adaptation problem of near-wall operation in the cleaning mode, making the invention not only applicable to general liquid spraying but also able to better meet the actual operational needs of building exterior surfaces, curtain walls or similar facilities, thereby enhancing the practicality of the invention in cleaning scenarios.

[0050] Example 3: Automatic Interface Connection and Liquid Source Switching Coordination Example

[0051] The feature of this embodiment is that the interface connection component automatically or semi-automatically establishes the corresponding path after the working module enters the working position, and works with the media selection component to complete the liquid source switching, thus making it more suitable for working scenarios with long-term hovering, continuous task switching or high requirements for path stability.

[0052] In this embodiment, the interface connection component is located within the connection area corresponding to the working position, including an airborne interface terminal located at the working position and module interface terminals located on the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module, respectively. The airborne interface terminal is connected to the mooring composite cable and is used to provide the working medium, power, and control signals to the target operation module entering the working position. When an operation module switches from a standby position to a working position, the interface connection component guides the corresponding connection parts to gradually align as the target operation module approaches the working position, and establishes the corresponding liquid supply connection, power supply connection, and control connection after the target operation module completes the guiding positioning and locking. Preferably, the interface connection component has guiding, anti-misconnection, sealing, and anti-leakage functions, and the liquid supply connection adopts a self-sealing quick-connect liquid circuit to reduce connection errors and the risk of medium leakage during the switching process.

[0053] In this embodiment, the media selection component is located within the rooftop supply component and is connected to the supply channels of the fire water tank, the cleaning fluid tank, and the tethered composite cable. After the target operation module enters its working position and meets predetermined position conditions, the control component not only controls or triggers the interface connection component to establish the corresponding channel but also further controls the media selection component to switch the supply channel to a liquid source matching the target operation module. For example, when the system switches from fire mode to cleaning mode, the control component, after the fire operation module exits its working state and the cleaning operation module is in position, controls the media selection component to connect the cleaning fluid tank to the supply channel; when the system switches from cleaning mode to fire mode, the control component connects the fire water tank to the supply channel. This creates a relatively coherent switching process: first, exiting the current mode; then, completing the position switch; then, completing the guidance positioning and locking; then, completing the interface connection; and finally, switching the corresponding liquid source and granting the target module's operating permissions. Without affecting the target operation module's entry into the corresponding operation mode, the liquid source switching action of the medium selection component can also be pre-switched before the interface connection component establishes the corresponding connection, or formally switched after the interface connection is established. This invention does not limit this.

[0054] In long-term continuous operation scenarios, if manual verification of the liquid supply, power supply, and control paths is still required after each mode switch, and the source of fire water or cleaning fluid is switched separately, downtime will easily increase and continuous operation efficiency will decrease. This embodiment improves the overall reliability and engineering feasibility of the invention in continuous operation scenarios by coordinating the interface connection components, media selection components, and control components to form a unified and coordinated relationship between the onboard module switching and the rooftop liquid source switching.

[0055] Example 4: Example of a method for switching to non-landing mode

[0056] This embodiment illustrates a method for switching between fire-fighting and cleaning modes using the operating system described in this invention. The method includes the following steps: First, controlling the current operating module to stop operation; second, disconnecting at least a portion of the liquid supply connection and / or control connection corresponding to the current operating module, and releasing the current operating module from its locked state; then, controlling the mounting and switching component to activate, causing another operating module to enter the working position; next, guiding, positioning, and locking the target operating module in the working position using a positioning and locking component; subsequently, establishing a liquid supply connection, power supply connection, and control connection corresponding to the target operating module using an interface connection component, and switching the liquid supply path to the liquid source corresponding to the target operating module using a media selection component; finally, controlling the target operating module to enter the corresponding fire-fighting or cleaning mode.

[0057] Preferably, before granting operating permissions to the target operating module, checks can be performed to ensure the target operating module is in place, properly locked, and that the interface is connected correctly. The target operating module is only allowed to enter the working state if the check results meet the predetermined operating conditions. More preferably, the entire mode switching process can be completed without the tethered drone landing. After the mode switch, the fire water tank or cleaning fluid tank continuously supplies the operating medium to the target operating module in its working position via the tethered composite cable, enabling long-term continuous firefighting or cleaning operations.

[0058] The above embodiments illustrate the present invention from the perspectives of continuous rooftop dual-liquid-source supply, near-wall cleaning buffer compliance, automatic interface connection and liquid source switching coordination, and non-landing mode switching method. It should be understood that the technical features in each embodiment are not isolated from each other and can be combined without contradiction. For example, the rotation switching method in Embodiment 1 can be combined with the near-wall buffer compliance setting in Embodiment 2, and can also be further combined with the automatic interface connection and liquid source switching coordination scheme in Embodiment 3, and used in conjunction with the non-landing mode switching method in Embodiment 4. As long as the combination of related technical features can still achieve the rooftop continuous supply, airborne dual-module switching, guidance and positioning, locking and holding, interface connection, liquid source switching, and control coordination relationships described in the present invention, all such combinations should be considered as part of the disclosure of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tethered drone operation system for rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes, characterized in that, include: Tethered drone body; An airborne operation mounting system is installed on the main body of the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle; A rooftop supply assembly is installed on the top of a building and / or other support platform, and the rooftop supply assembly includes at least a fire water tank, a cleaning fluid tank, a medium selection assembly, and a power supply assembly. The mooring composite cable has one end connected to the rooftop supply component and the other end connected to the airborne operation mounting system. The mooring composite cable includes at least a liquid supply path and a power supply control path. The airborne operation mounting system includes: An airborne mounting unit is used to connect to the main body of the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle. A mounting and switching component is installed on the airborne mounting unit to carry the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module, and to allow either the fire-fighting operation module or the cleaning operation module to selectively enter the working position; A positioning and locking component is used to guide, position, and lock the target work module after it enters the working position. A buffer adapter component is used to reduce the impact during the switching process and the transmission of vibration or force disturbance generated during operation to the tethered drone body; An interface connectivity component is used to establish a liquid supply connection, a power supply connection, and a control connection corresponding to the target working module after the target working module is in the working position. The control component is used to control the coordinated operation of the mounting switching component, the positioning locking component, the interface connection component, and the media selection component to achieve switching between fire-fighting mode and cleaning mode; The medium selection component is used to connect the fire water tank to the liquid supply passage in fire mode to deliver fire water to the fire operation module, and to connect the cleaning liquid tank to the liquid supply passage in cleaning mode to deliver cleaning liquid to the cleaning operation module.

2. The tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting and switching assembly includes a support base and a switching drive unit. The fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module are spaced apart on the support base. The switching drive unit is used to drive the support base to move along a predetermined switching path so that the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module alternately enter the working position.

3. The tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning and locking assembly includes a pre-positioning element and a locking element. The pre-positioning element is used to guide and correct the target working module when it approaches the working position, and the locking element is used to lock and retain the target working module after it reaches the working position.

4. The tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The buffer adapter provides relatively high rigidity support in fire mode to adapt to the reaction force disturbance during fire spraying operations, and provides relatively high compliance buffering capacity in cleaning mode to adapt to contact vibration and local impact during near-wall cleaning operations.

5. The tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interface connection component includes an airborne interface terminal located at the working position and module interface terminals located on the fire-fighting operation module and the cleaning operation module, respectively. The airborne interface terminal and the module interface terminal are connected after the target operation module enters the working position to establish corresponding liquid supply connection, power supply connection and control connection.

6. The tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The interface connection component has guiding, anti-misconnection, sealing and anti-leakage functions, and the liquid supply connection is a self-sealing quick-connect liquid circuit.

7. The tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control component is configured to switch according to the following timing control mode: control the current working module to exit the working state, disconnect at least a part of the liquid supply connection and / or control connection corresponding to the current working module, release the current position lock, control the mounting switching component to move another working module into the working position, complete the guiding positioning and locking, establish the liquid supply connection, power supply connection and control connection corresponding to the target working module, and control the medium selection component to switch the corresponding liquid source and open the working permission of the target working module.

8. A method for mode switching using a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system with rapid switching between firefighting and cleaning modes as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Control the current job module to stop working; S2. Disconnect at least a portion of the liquid supply connection and / or control connection corresponding to the current working module, and release the locked state of the current working module; S3. Control the action of the mounting and switching component to bring another working module into the working position; S4. The target work module entering the working position is guided, positioned, and locked by the positioning and locking components. S5. Establish liquid supply connection, power supply connection and control connection with the target operation module through the interface connection component; S6. Switch the liquid supply path to the liquid source corresponding to the target operation module through the medium selection component; S7. Control the target operation module to enter the corresponding fire-fighting mode or cleaning mode.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, Before step S7, the process also includes: detecting whether the target job module is in place, whether the locking is complete, and whether the interface connection is normal. The job permission of the target job module is only granted when the detection results meet the predetermined job conditions.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The mode switching is completed without the tethered drone body landing. After switching between firefighting mode and cleaning mode, the working medium is continuously supplied to the target operation module in the working position by the fire water tank or the cleaning fluid tank through the tethered composite cable, so as to realize long-term continuous firefighting operation or long-term continuous cleaning operation.

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