Unmanned aerial vehicle docking device

Abstract

The utility model provides an unmanned aerial vehicle docking device which comprises a U-shaped connecting piece, the U-shaped connecting piece is fixed to an unmanned aerial vehicle, two through grooves are formed in the bottom of the U-shaped connecting piece, a first connecting piece is installed on the portion, between the two through grooves, of the U-shaped connecting piece, and the middle of the first connecting piece is connected with the U-shaped connecting piece; one end of the first connecting piece is hinged to the middle of the first gripper, the other end of the first connecting piece is hinged to the middle of the second gripper, the first gripper penetrates through one through groove, the second gripper penetrates through the other through groove, the end of the first gripper is hinged to the second connecting piece, and the end of the second gripper is hinged to the third connecting piece. The second connecting piece is connected with the third connecting piece in a hinged mode, an electric telescopic rod is installed between the hinged position of the second connecting piece and the third connecting piece and the first connecting piece, the electric telescopic rod is connected with a control system of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and butt joint and separation of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detection robot can be achieved; the unmanned aerial vehicle can convey the detection robot to the fan blade or carry the detection robot back.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and in particular to a UAV docking device. Background Art

[0002] Wind power is currently a key clean energy source being developed globally. Wind turbine blades, as crucial components of wind turbines, can develop various problems over long periods of operation, such as structural issues and fatigue-induced cracks. Breaks in the internal wiring used for lightning protection and conduction can also increase the risk of lightning strikes during thunderstorms. These problems, if not discovered in a timely manner, can lead to serious safety incidents. Because wind turbine blades can be tens or even hundreds of meters long, with their tips often more than 10 to 20 meters above the ground, inspections are currently primarily performed manually at high altitude using hanging baskets or "Spider-Man" techniques, which are inefficient and pose high safety risks.

[0003] Patent publication number CN202321782176 discloses a wall-climbing robot for wind turbine blade inspection. The robot comprises a main body and multiple mechanical legs that adjust the body's climbing position. The main body is equipped with an image acquisition unit, a controller, and a power supply. The legs are equipped with multiple servos for controlling movement, and the lower ends of the legs have suction points. While the robot can be used for wind turbine blade inspection, how to transport it to the blades remains an urgent challenge. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the utility model provides a drone docking device, which can realize the docking and separation of the drone and the inspection robot. After docking with the inspection robot, it can be transported to the wind turbine blade, and then separated to complete the inspection by the inspection robot, and then the drone can dock with it and transport it back.

[0005] The specific technical solution is as follows: A drone docking device includes a U-shaped connector, which is fixed to the drone. Two through slots are provided at the bottom of the U-shaped connector. A first connector is installed on the U-shaped connector between the two through slots. The middle part of the first connector is connected to the U-shaped connector, one end of the first connector is hingedly connected to the middle part of the first gripper, and the other end is hingedly connected to the middle part of the second gripper. The first gripper passes through one of the through slots, and the second gripper passes through the other through slot. The end of the first gripper is hingedly connected to the second connector, the end of the second gripper is hingedly connected to the third connector, the second connector is hingedly connected to the third connector, and an electric telescopic rod is installed between the hinge between the second connector and the third connector and the first connector, and the electric telescopic rod is connected to the control system of the drone.

[0006] Preferably, infrared sensors are installed on the U-shaped connectors, and the infrared sensors are respectively connected to the control systems of the drones.

[0007] Preferably, the infrared sensor is installed on a U-shaped connecting piece between the two through grooves.

[0008] Preferably, both ends of the U-shaped connector are respectively provided with a bending portion, and the bending portion is provided with a through hole.

[0009] Preferably, the first gripper is provided with a first weight-reducing hole, and the second gripper is provided with a second weight-reducing hole.

[0010] Preferably, the U-shaped connector, the first connector, the first grip, the second grip, the second connector and the third connector are respectively made of carbon fiber or aviation aluminum.

[0011] The beneficial effects of the utility model are:

[0012] 1. The drone can control the extension and retraction of the electric telescopic rod, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the first gripper and the second gripper. When the first gripper and the second gripper are closed, the inspection robot can be grabbed and transported to the wind turbine blade. When the inspection robot is adsorbed on the wind turbine blade and works, the first gripper and the second gripper are opened to separate the drone and the inspection robot, and the drone returns to save power consumption. After the inspection is completed, the drone will pick it up again.

[0013] 2. Installing an infrared sensor on the drone docking device can improve the accuracy of docking between the drone and the inspection robot.

[0014] 3. Setting weight-reducing holes on the first gripper and the second gripper can reduce the overall mass of the UAV docking device.

[0015] 4. The U-shaped connector, the first connector, the first gripper, the second gripper, the second connector and the third connector are made of carbon fiber or aviation aluminum materials, which can reduce the overall weight while ensuring the operating performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without inventive work. Among them:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention, but the present invention can also be implemented in other ways different from the description. Those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations without violating the connotation of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0019] Secondly, the term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it refer to a separate or selective embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0020] Example 1

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, a drone docking device includes a U-shaped connector 1, which is fixed to the drone. Two through slots 9 are provided at the bottom of the U-shaped connector 1. A first connector 2 is installed on the U-shaped connector 1 between the two through slots 9. The middle part of the first connector 2 is connected to the U-shaped connector 1, one end of the first connector 2 is hingedly connected to the middle part of the first gripper 3, and the other end is hingedly connected to the middle part of the second gripper 4. The first gripper 3 passes through one of the through slots 9, and the second gripper 4 passes through the other through slot 9. The end of the first gripper 3 is hingedly connected to the second connector 5, the end of the second gripper 4 is hingedly connected to the third connector 6, the second connector 5 is hingedly connected to the third connector 6, and an electric telescopic rod 7 is installed between the hinge between the second connector 5 and the third connector 6 and the first connector 2. The electric telescopic rod 7 is connected to the control system of the drone.

[0022] Through the above scheme, the drone can control the extension and retraction of the electric telescopic rod, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the first gripper and the second gripper. When the first gripper and the second gripper are closed, the inspection robot can be grabbed and transported to the wind turbine blade. When the inspection robot is adsorbed on the wind turbine blade and works, the first gripper and the second gripper are opened to separate the drone and the inspection robot, and the drone returns to save power consumption. After the inspection is completed, the drone will pick it up again.

[0023] Preferably, an infrared sensor 8 is installed on the U-shaped connector 1, and the infrared sensor 8 is installed on the U-shaped connector 1 between the two through grooves 9. The infrared sensor 8 is connected to the control system of the drone respectively. The above solution can improve the accuracy of the docking between the drone and the detection robot.

[0024] Preferably, both ends of the U-shaped connector 1 are respectively provided with a bending portion 11 , and the bending portion 11 is provided with a through hole 12 , and the through hole 12 is used to fix the U-shaped connector 1 on the drone by bolts or rivets.

[0025] Preferably, the first gripper 3 is provided with a first weight-reducing hole 31, and the second gripper 4 is provided with a second weight-reducing hole 41. The U-shaped connector 1, first connector 2, first gripper 3, second gripper 4, second connector 5, and third connector 6 are each made of carbon fiber or aviation aluminum. This solution reduces the overall weight of the drone docking device.

[0026] 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 the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all of these should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A UAV docking device, characterized by: The invention comprises a U-shaped connecting member (1), wherein the U-shaped connecting member (1) is fixed on a drone, and two through slots (9) are provided at the bottom of the U-shaped connecting member (1), and a first connecting member (2) is installed on the U-shaped connecting member (1) between the two through slots (9), wherein the middle part of the first connecting member (2) is connected to the U-shaped connecting member (1), one end of the first connecting member (2) is hingedly connected to the middle part of a first gripper (3), and the other end is hingedly connected to the middle part of a second gripper (4), and the first gripper (3) passes through the first gripper (3) and the second gripper (4) The first gripper (3) is connected to a through slot (9), the second gripper (4) passes through another through slot (9), the end of the first gripper (3) is hingedly connected to the second connecting piece (5), the end of the second gripper (4) is hingedly connected to the third connecting piece (6), the second connecting piece (5) is hingedly connected to the third connecting piece (6), an electric telescopic rod (7) is installed between the hinge of the second connecting piece (5) and the third connecting piece (6) and the first connecting piece (2), and the electric telescopic rod (7) is connected to the control system of the drone.

2. The UAV docking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Infrared sensors (8) are installed on the U-shaped connecting piece (1), and the infrared sensors (8) are respectively connected to the control systems of the drones.

3. The UAV docking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The infrared sensor (8) is mounted on the U-shaped connecting piece (1) between the two through slots (9).

4. The UAV docking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both ends of the U-shaped connecting piece (1) are respectively provided with a bending portion (11), and a through hole (12) is provided on the bending portion (11).

5. The UAV docking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first gripper (3) is provided with a first weight-reducing hole (31), and the second gripper (4) is provided with a second weight-reducing hole (41).

6. The UAV docking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The U-shaped connecting piece (1), the first connecting piece (2), the first gripping handle (3), the second gripping handle (4), the second connecting piece (5) and the third connecting piece (6) are respectively made of carbon fiber or aviation aluminum.

Images