Protective device for operation right below unmanned aircraft

Abstract

To improve productivity by using an unmanned aircraft which can safely load and unload cargo in a state of hovering, to solve the problem that operation efficiency is compromised and batteries are consumed when transporting cargo by an unmanned cargo aircraft, as the aircraft has to repeatedly take off and land every time the cargo is loaded or unloaded, and workers avoid operation right below the unmanned aircraft to ensure safety.SOLUTION: A protective device for work right below an unmanned aircraft can safely and efficiently load and unload cargo even when the unmanned aircraft is hovering above workers. It has a protective part that protects the workers and a support part that stays above the workers and a recess is provided on part of the outer edge of the protective part as an introducing part to stably guide the rope dangling from the unmanned aircraft. The protective parts are equipped with a protection extension part to ensure a lateral work area, and it is designed to be able to move laterally and diagonally. The protective device for operation right below unmanned aircraft can have its height adjusted, be placed stably even the work site is inclined, and secure a vertical work area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of transporting cargo, etc., using unmanned aerial vehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to a movable protective device that protects workers working directly under an unmanned aerial vehicle from damage such as a crash when loading and unloading cargo, and belongs to the technical field of improving safety and productivity in the utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Unmanned aerial vehicles are increasingly being used in a wide range of fields, including surveying, inspection, security, logistics, and agriculture. The applicant also uses unmanned aerial vehicles to carry out various tasks and demonstration experiments, one of which is in the forestry field. In the forestry field, there is the issue of aging workers, which is common to other industries, but in addition, many of the work sites are located on mountain slopes in harsh working conditions, and many tasks are very demanding for workers, so it is considered to be one of the industrial fields that require labor saving as well as improved safety and productivity. And for such purposes, there are high expectations for further improvement and development in the future as smart forestry, with new efforts in the forestry field that actively utilize information technology and unmanned aerial vehicles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-186523 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Currently, not only in the forestry industry, but in a wide range of industrial fields, various entities are working on the transportation of cargo using unmanned aerial vehicles. Ensuring safety during the air transport of cargo is an essential requirement, but when loading and unloading the cargo, it is also extremely important to improve both the safety and efficiency of the work. The performance of unmanned aerial vehicles has improved significantly, and the cargo they transport is often quite heavy. In the case of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the forestry field, which the applicant has been working on, for example, when transporting seedlings for afforestation to mountain slopes by air using an unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle repeatedly takes off and lands each time the seedlings are loaded and unloaded. This type of work procedure is common not only in the forestry field but also in other fields, where the unmanned aerial vehicle takes off and lands each time cargo is loaded and unloaded, and workers at that time must always be careful not to get directly under the unmanned aerial vehicle in order to ensure their own safety. Furthermore, taking off and landing an unmanned aerial vehicle places a heavy burden on the battery, and an increase in the number of takeoffs and landings leads to a decrease in flight distance and a restriction on the number of air transports. In addition, the time required for takeoff and landing itself is directly linked to delays in work hours. In response to this current situation, if unmanned aerial vehicles were able to safely and efficiently load and unload cargo without having to take off and land each time, but instead hovering above workers, it would be possible to improve productivity not only in the transport of seedlings by unmanned aerial vehicles in the forestry sector, but also in cargo transport in other industries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Based on this awareness of the problem, we came up with the technical idea of ​​a protection device for work directly below an unmanned aerial vehicle, which allows workers to safely and efficiently load and unload cargo directly below the unmanned aerial vehicle while it is hovering above the workers' heads, carrying cargo with a rope. The basic configuration of this unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device includes a protection section for protecting a worker from an overhead unmanned aerial vehicle or falling cargo, and a support section for holding the protection section above the worker's head. A recess is provided on a part of the outer edge of the protection section to allow a rope to be introduced, and the worker can grasp the rope hanging from the unmanned aerial vehicle and suppress the swinging of the rope at the introduction section, which is the recess, and lead the cargo in a stable state to the worker's side. Regarding this introduction section, a recess may be formed by protruding a part of the outer edge, or a recess may be formed by adding a member to the outer edge as a protruding part, or a slit-shaped processing may be applied to the outer edge side, the width of which gradually narrows toward the back. Furthermore, in addition to the fixed protection section that protects the worker, there is a specification that includes a protection extension section that can slide sideways. This protection section and the lateral movement of the protection extension section by the moving mechanism safely protect the worker from falling objects over a wider work area. In addition, the support section is equipped with a height adjustment mechanism, making it possible to adjust the height and inclination of the protection section and the protection extension section, making it an unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device. The movable protective extension section that is combined with the fixed protective section is equipped with a lateral movement mechanism as well as an angle adjustment mechanism, making it possible to move the protective extension section not only laterally but also diagonally up and down, creating an unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device that can perform cargo loading and unloading operations under optimal conditions. Effect of the Invention

[0006] By using this unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device, workers can load and unload cargo in a safe environment with the overhead protection. In the conventional work procedure, unmanned aerial vehicles repeatedly take off and land each time loading and unloading is done, but by using this unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device, the need for frequent takeoffs and landings is eliminated, and loading and unloading can be done safely and efficiently while the drone remains hovering above the workers' heads. At this time, the worker can steer the rope hanging from the unmanned aerial vehicle along the lead-in point provided on the outer edge of the protective section to suppress the rope's swaying, and move the cargo in a stable manner to the worker's side while working under the protective section, allowing loading and unloading operations to be carried out safely and efficiently. In addition, by moving the protective extension section laterally, a wide horizontal working space is ensured for the workers protected by the protective section and the protective extension section. Furthermore, because this unmanned aerial vehicle direct-below work protection device is expected to be used on sloping ground, particularly in the forestry industry, a height adjustment mechanism can be added, such as making part of the support part extendable or bendable, making it possible for the device to flexibly adapt to slopes and unevenness in the work site. Furthermore, by adding an angle adjustment mechanism that allows the protection extension to move not only horizontally but also diagonally, the height of the protection extension from the ground surface can be changed according to the slope or unevenness of the work site, and a larger vertical work space can be secured. Also, workers can adjust the angle of the protection extension as needed to easily grasp the movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the sky. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating an example of the outer shape of an introduction portion. [Figure 4] 13 is a front view (part) showing an example of a movement mechanism of the protection expansion section. FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a side view (part) showing an example of a height adjustment mechanism for a support portion. FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is a side view (part) showing an example of an angle adjustment mechanism for a protective extension portion. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is a side view showing the state in which the protective extension part is moved in an oblique direction. FIG. [Figure 8] This is a side view showing the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device being used on a slope. [Figure 9] This is a side view showing the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device being used on uneven ground. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Currently, when using unmanned aerial vehicles to transport cargo, the general procedure for loading and unloading is to load the cargo when the unmanned aerial vehicle has landed, and unload the cargo when the unmanned aerial vehicle has landed. In other words, when transporting cargo with unmanned aerial vehicles, the standard operating method is for the unmanned aerial vehicle to repeatedly take off and land each time to load and unload the cargo. On the other hand, from the perspective of the load on the batteries that power unmanned aerial vehicles, the proportion of power consumed during takeoff and landing is very large, and there is a strong demand to reduce this load as much as possible and increase flight distances and the number of transports. In addition, from the perspective of preventing workplace accidents, workers engaged in loading and unloading operations are constantly exposed to the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles flying overhead and falling objects, and must ensure their own safety by being careful to avoid the risk of getting directly under them.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 according to the present invention. In the following description, the diagonally lower right side of Fig. 1 is the front of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, and the opposite upper left side is the rear. In addition, the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 in Fig. 1 is a specification that integrates and combines various mechanisms that will appear in the following step-by-step explanation of various specifications related to the present invention. In other words, it illustrates the highest level specification of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 according to the present invention.

[0010] Workers who load and unload cargo from the unmanned aerial vehicle can work safely while remaining inside the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1. Then, when the unmanned aerial vehicle flies above the workers to load and unload cargo, the unmanned aerial vehicle hovers directly above the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 and the workers, hoists the cargo to be transported with a rope, and then hoists the cargo that has been transported. Therefore, even if an unmanned aerial vehicle that raises and lowers cargo using a hanging rope crashes due to some factor, such as unexpected aircraft trouble or a sudden gust of wind, workers protected by the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 will be able to load and unload cargo safely and efficiently, even when directly below the unmanned aerial vehicle overhead.

[0011] First, the basic specifications of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 according to the present invention, which has the simplest configuration, will be described. However, the shape and configuration shown in Fig. 1 are merely one example of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1. As described above, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, which is the highest specification having multiple functions related to the present invention. However, the basic configuration common to each of the specifications of this device, which will be described in sequence below, from the most basic specification described below to the top-level specification shown in Figure 1, can be understood as a combination of two main parts. One of the main parts is the protective part 2 that is held above the worker's head to protect the worker from a direct hit if a heavy object such as the body of an unmanned aerial vehicle or cargo being transported by air falls. The other main part is the support part 3 that stably holds the protective part 2 above the worker's head.

[0012] In Fig. 1, the flat part shown at the top of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 and held in a horizontal position is the protection unit 2. The support parts 3 are shown as two parts that stand parallel to each other at a specified distance and support two opposing sides of the protection unit 2 in order to stably hold the protection unit 2 above the worker's head. Regarding the positional relationship between the protection part 2 and the support part 3 in Figure 1, when explaining the top-level specifications of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 later, it will be explained that the two are indirectly connected via a support plate 12 that is part of its characteristic angle adjustment mechanism 11. However, in the simplest specification of the present invention, the angle adjustment mechanism 11 is not necessary. Therefore, in the basic specification described here, the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 is configured so that the protection unit 2 and the support unit 3 are directly combined without the support plate 12.

[0013] Furthermore, in the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 having a basic configuration with such a combination of the protection part 2 and the support part 3, a recess is provided on part of the outer edge of the protection part 2 to serve as an introduction part 4 for guiding the rope hanging down from the unmanned aerial vehicle. This introduction part 4 is used by an operator to grasp the rope and cargo hanging down from the unmanned aerial vehicle with his or her hands, stabilize them while suppressing their swaying, and safely move them close to the operator. Therefore, the simplest specifications for the unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device 1 of the present invention are an unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device 1 comprising a protective part 2 that protects the worker from falling objects and a support part 3 that holds this protective part 2 above the worker's head, with one or more recesses provided on part of the outer edge of this protective part 2, which function as an introduction part 4 that allows the worker to safely guide a rope or the like hanging down from the unmanned aerial vehicle close to him or her.

[0014] As in the case of the support plate 12 described above, the positional relationship between the protective section 2 and the introduction section 4 is shown in FIG. 1 in a partially different state from that described above. For convenience, Fig. 1 shows not only the basic components but also additional components and mechanisms that will be required when explaining other specifications below. Therefore, the configuration near the protection unit 2, which is sandwiched between the left and right support units 3 and is located at the upper center of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, does not show only the protection unit 2, but shows it as a specification that includes a part that is arranged parallel to and below the protection unit 2. However, similar to the angle adjustment mechanism 11 described above, with regard to the configuration near the protective section 2 in the specifications of Figure 1, in the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 of basic specifications, it is not necessarily required to have such an upper and lower double structure.

[0015] 1 as an upper and lower double structure, and the section aligned parallel to and below the protective section 2 will be explained in detail in the following explanation of specifications, but while the protective section 2 is fixed, the section below it is movable. This section protects workers together with the protective section 2 and has the function of expanding the protection range, so in the following explanation it will be referred to as the protection expansion section 5. For these reasons, in Fig. 1, the positional relationship of the lead-in part 4 for safely guiding the rope hanging down from the unmanned aerial vehicle to the worker is also specified by adding a forward-facing protrusion to part of the outer edge in front of the protective extension part 5 to provide a recess that serves as the lead-in part 4. However, in the simplest specification of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, the protective extension part 5 does not exist in the first place, so the recess that serves as the lead-in part 4 is located on the outer edge of the protection part 2.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 of FIG. 1 as viewed from above the unmanned aerial vehicle. The lower part of Fig. 2 is the front of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, and the upper part of Fig. 2 is the rear of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1. On the left and right of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, support parts 3 that hold the protection part 2 via support plates 12 are illustrated parallel to the left and right. The lower side of the protective section 2, which is sandwiched between the support sections 3 and held above the center, is open and not blocked at the front or back to allow workers to pass through.

[0017] The protective section 2 and the support section 3 in Figures 1 and 2 are both formed as a frame structure. The outer edge of the protective section 2 is a rectangular frame, and the left and right support sections 3 are frame structures that resemble two rectangular shapes joined together above and below. A coarse mesh net or fence is stretched around the inside of these frame structures. This mesh-like structure ensures good visibility for workers in all directions even inside the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, and also contributes to the weight reduction of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1. In addition, this unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 is expected to be used mainly outdoors, and is structured to be able to withstand the effects of crosswinds, etc. by keeping the ratio of the mesh to the surface area of ​​the protection part 2 and support part 3 large.

[0018] The materials for such a structure as a frame or a mesh are not necessarily limited as long as the required strength is satisfied. Generally, it is considered to use a strong and lightweight material such as light metal or fiber reinforced plastic. 1 and 2 are basically rectangular, there is no reason to limit their structures or shapes to those shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the protective part 2 and the supporting part 3 are not necessarily limited to those made of a framework or mesh structure as shown in Fig. 1. For example, the supporting part 3 could be made of one or more supports, or a protective part 2 and a supporting part 3 could be made of a transparent, sturdy plate-like member with slits to maintain visibility and light weight.

[0019] In the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 in Figures 1 and 2, a worker holds the rope hanging directly below the unmanned aerial vehicle with his or her hands and abuts the rope against the inside surface of the recessed lead-in part 4. Although the rope is expected to sway violently due to the weight of the cargo, the inertia caused by the flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the effects of crosswinds, etc., the worker can use the lead-in part 4 to suppress the rope's swinging and keep it stable, while guiding the rope and cargo to his or her side and quickly carrying out loading and unloading work in a safe state with the overhead protection by the protection part 2. In addition, suppressing the swinging of ropes and other objects not only protects workers, but also contributes to maintaining the stability of the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles hovering in the sky and reducing power consumption.

[0020] In the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 that does not have the protection extension part 5, which is the basic specification, the introduction part 4 is arranged on the outer edge of the protection part 2. Then, the worker grasps the rope hanging down from the unmanned aerial vehicle, quickly and safely guides the cargo connected to it to the inside of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, to the back of the worker's work area, and performs the loading and unloading work reliably beside the worker. At that time, the introduction part 4 functions as a guide part for stably guiding the rope and cargo by guiding it along its inner surface and suppressing swinging. As shown in Figure 1, multiple protrusions are provided to form a relatively large recess, and the worker can effectively use the inner surface and corners of the recess to suppress the swinging of the rope. The number of recesses that serve as the lead-in part 4 is not limited to one, and any required number can be arranged within the possible range.

[0021] In Fig. 2, multiple protrusions are provided on part of the outer edge at the front of the rectangular framework structure that is the protective extension 5. These are arranged at roughly equal intervals, but in Fig. 1 they protrude forward and in Fig. 2 they are shown facing downwards. In Fig. 2, the protrusions at both left and right ends are not shown as they are behind the left and right guide rails 7 that form part of the movement mechanism 6 described below, but in Fig. 1 they can be seen as two protrusions that form part of the framework structure at both left and right ends of the protective extension 5.

[0022] Various specifications can be adopted for the arrangement, number, and shape of the recesses that serve as the introduction portion 4 on the outer edge of the protective part 2 and the protective extension part 5. In addition to forming the introduction portion 4 by adding a long, thin, plate-like or rod-like protrusion as shown in Figure 2, it is also possible to conceive a specification in which the outer edge of the protective part 2 itself is processed into a curved shape, and V-shaped or U-shaped recesses are provided on the outer edge in front and in two directions, such as the front and rear, to serve as the introduction portion 4, and one or more of these are arranged in a well-balanced manner. It is also useful for the introduction section 4 having such a recess to have a width that gradually narrows from the outside to the inside of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1. This makes it easy to reliably control the movement of cargo, etc. while gently suppressing the lateral swing of the rope held by the hand while guiding the rope to the worker's side. FIG. 3 shows an example of the outer shape of the introduction portion 4 with such different specifications. 1A, 1B and 1C are plan views of the protective unit 2 as viewed from above or below. The protective part 2 of a has introduction parts 4 on both outer edges. The protective part 2 of b has two gentle introduction parts 4. The protective part 2 of c has slightly deeper slit-like introduction parts 4 in three places on the outer edge. In either case, the outer edges are rounded for safety reasons.

[0023] In Figure 2, a small, flat, elongated, plate-like protrusion is added to the outer edge of the protection extension 5, dividing the entry section 4, which is the recess where the worker introduces the rope, into three areas, Area A, Area B, and Area C. It is also effective to add rubber or plastic cushioning material to the area where the rope comes into contact in each area of ​​the entry section 4. As described above, by devising the shape of the cushioning material provided in each of the areas A, B, and C, or gradually narrowing the width of each area, the contact with the rope becomes softer, making it easier to gently control the swinging of the rope and cargo, as the inside of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 approaches the worker side, as described above. Furthermore, a member that acts as a stopper to suppress excessive movement of the rope may be provided in the lead-in part 4, or such processing may be performed. The number and arrangement of the recesses serving as the introduction portion 4 may be either one or multiple as long as they are suited to the size and strength of the protective portion 2, and for example, introduction portions 4 similar to those on the lower side may be provided on the two opposing front and rear sides of the protective portion 2, i.e., on the upper outer edge in Fig. 2, as shown in Fig. 3a. The shape of the introduction portion 4 is also not limited to the plate-like or rod-like protrusions described above, or further to V- or U-shaped shapes, or to the form shown in Fig. 3.

[0024] Next, an unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 with the simplest specifications explained so far is configured with a fixed protection section 2, part of whose outer edge becomes the lead-in section 4, and a support section 3 that holds this above the worker's head. The unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 with partially different specifications has the same function of protecting workers as the fixed protection section 2, and further has a mobile protection extension section 5 added to expand the working area for workers loading and unloading work. As mentioned above, the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 with the specifications shown in Figures 1 and 2 already shows this movable protection extension 5. In the doubled structure near the protection part 2, there is a framework structure held parallel to the protection part 2 below it, which is the protection extension 5 that can slide laterally.

[0025] In this second specification unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1, the protection expansion section 5 is designed to be slid laterally by a moving mechanism 6 while maintaining a parallel positional relationship with the protection section 2, thereby enabling workers to work efficiently in an expanded working area for loading and unloading operations. Therefore, in this specification, the device is provided with a protective part 2 that protects the worker from falling objects, and a support part 3 that holds the protective part 2 above the worker's head, and in addition to the protective part 2, it is further provided with one or more protective extension parts 5 and their movement mechanism 6. The protective extension part 5 is made movable laterally, and one or more recesses are provided in part of the outer edge of the protective extension part 5, so that the device can be said to be an unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device 1 that enables a worker to safely pull in the rope hanging down from the unmanned aerial vehicle. Fig. 4 shows an example of a moving mechanism 6 that moves the protection extension part 5 laterally. Fig. 4 is a front view of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 shown in Fig. 1, and shows only the upper part. There is a protective part 2 supported at the highest position by left and right support parts 3, etc., and below that is held a protective extension part 5 in a state parallel to the protective part 2. In Fig. 1, the protective part 2 is held by the support parts 3 via a support plate 12 that forms part of the angle adjustment mechanism 11, although this is not a required function in this second specification, and the same is true in Fig. 4.

[0026] The protection extension section 5 is supported at both left and right ends by a guide rail 7 which is a part of an angle adjustment mechanism 11, the other specifications of which will be explained later. To explain the configuration in more detail, the guide rail 7 is held by a support plate 12, and at the same time, a hanging pulley 8 connected to the protection extension section 5 is incorporated in the guide rail 7. Therefore, the worker can freely move the protection extension section 5 along the guide rail 7. At this time, the protection extension section 5 can be stopped and fixed at a predetermined position, and the hanging pulley 8 has a predetermined range of movement and always stays within the guide rail 7, so the protection extension section 5 will not come off the guide rail 7 and fall toward the worker. 1 and 2 show a state in which the protection extension part 5 has moved slightly forward of the protection part 2. As shown in FIG.

[0027] The unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 of the present invention was developed assuming use not only on flat loading and unloading sites, but also on sloped work sites such as mountainous areas. Therefore, the specifications of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 described below are required to be adapted to such special usage environments. First, in the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 according to the third specification, a height adjustment mechanism 9 is added to the support part 3. For example, in the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 in Fig. 1, legs 10 that can be raised and lowered are arranged at the four corners of the front, rear, left and right below the support part 3, and the height of the support part 3 can be adjusted up and down at each individual position.

[0028] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing only the lower part of the support part 3. As shown in FIG. The structure of this height adjustment mechanism 9 is the simplest in specifications, but is very easy to handle and has sufficient structural strength. To keep the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 level and stably positioned even on a slope, the worker adjusts the height of the support part 3 by adjusting the height adjustment mechanisms 9 at the four corners to a specified height and aligning the through holes provided in the support part 3 with the through holes arranged at equal intervals in the legs 10. In the example of Fig. 5, a member like a fixed pin is used, which is inserted into the through holes provided in both the support part 3 and the leg part 10. This allows the worker to freely change the height and inclination of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1. Therefore, loading and unloading work can be performed in a stable state even on a slope by appropriately adjusting the height and inclination of the protection part 2 and the protection extension part 5.

[0029] It should be noted that the height adjustment mechanism 9 is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure. It is of course possible to adopt different specifications, and for example, it is possible to adopt specifications in which the height of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 on all four sides can be adjusted by bending and fixing a part of the support part 3. Furthermore, the shapes and configurations of the support part 3 and the legs 10 are not limited to those shown in Fig. 1 etc. For example, the support part 3 may be made of one or more pole-shaped members. It is sufficient that each of these members is extendable and retractable so that the length can be easily adjusted and the member can be stably fixed.

[0030] In addition, as a fourth specification of the present invention, it is meaningful to make the movement mechanism 6 of the protective expansion part 5 itself variable, and to make the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 equipped with an angle adjustment mechanism 11 that enables the protective expansion part 5 to be moved not only laterally, but also diagonally up and down. The unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is equipped with the various functions described so far, namely, the movement mechanism 6, the height adjustment mechanism 9, and the angle adjustment mechanism 11, and is an integration of each of the specifications described so far. Therefore, the protection extension part 5 can move not only horizontally, but also diagonally up and down, and since the height of the support part 3 is variable, the height and angle of the protection part 2 and the protection extension part 5 can be changed appropriately according to the condition of the slope.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a side view showing an angle adjustment mechanism 11 that can tilt the angle of the guide rail 7 up and down, and is an enlarged portion of the side view of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 in FIG. The support part 3 holds the protective part 2 and the guide rail 7 via front and rear support plates 12 that are part of the angle adjustment mechanism 11. The protective extension part 5 is suspended from the guide rail 7 via a suspension pulley 8 in a movable state. Identical angle adjustment mechanisms 11 are provided on the left and right sides of the support part 3, and the support plates 12 arranged at the front and back have through holes for adjusting the up and down position, i.e., the height at which the guide rail 7 is attached, when the guide rail 7 is attached to it. By raising or lowering the front and back attachment positions, the angle at which the guide rail 7 and the protective extension part 5 move can be changed up or down.

[0032] Moreover, when the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is placed on a flat ground surface, an example of its size is as follows. The protective unit 2 has a left-right width of about 900 mm and a front-to-back depth of about 1000 mm. The support unit 3 has a width of about 1000 mm, the same as the depth of the protective unit 2, and a height of about 1800 mm. In Fig. 1, the protective unit 2 is held even higher by a support plate 12, so its height from the ground surface is about 1950 mm. Because the protection extension part 5 is located below the protection part 2, even when it is not moved or when it is moved laterally, its height from the ground surface is approximately 1800 mm, which is close to the height of the support part 3. When the protection extension part 5 is moved diagonally upward to its maximum extent by the angle adjustment mechanism 11, the height from the ground surface to the outer edge of the protection extension part 5 is approximately 1950 mm, which is roughly equal to the height of the protection part 2. However, these sizes, as well as changes in the angle of the protective extension 5 and the height of its outer edge, are just examples. It is possible to change the length of the support plate 12, etc., as necessary, to obtain a greater adjustment effect for the protective extension 5.

[0033] Figure 7 shows how the angle of the guide rail 7 and the protective extension part 5 that moves along it is changed by this angle adjustment mechanism 11. The left side of Figure 7 shows the state in which the rear of the guide rail 7 is positioned below the rear support plate 12, and the front of the guide rail 7 is positioned above the front support plate 12, changing the front-to-rear height of the guide rail 7. This causes the protective extension part 5 to move diagonally upward, ensuring a sufficient height from the ground surface to the protective extension part 5. 7 shows the opposite state, with the rear of the guide rail 7 positioned above the rear support plate 12 and the front of the guide rail 7 positioned below the front support plate 12, changing the height. As a result, the tip of the protective extension part 5 is inclined diagonally downward.

[0034] To sum up, the lateral movement of the protection extension 5 described above has the function of expanding the work area horizontally, whereas changing the angle of the protection extension 5 has the effect of expanding the work area vertically by securing the distance from the ground surface by changing the height of the protection extension 5. In addition, by changing the angle of the protection extension 5, it is possible to deal with unevenness in the work site, and it also has the effect of allowing the angle of the protection extension 5 to be appropriately adjusted so that workers can easily visually check the movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the sky.

[0035] FIG. 8 shows the situation in which the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 of FIG. 1 is placed at a work site on a slope. The positional relationship between the support 3, which constitutes the height adjustment mechanism 9, and the legs 10 is such that the front, rear, left and right legs 10 can be raised and lowered as appropriate to maintain the overall balance of the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 even on a slope. At this time, the legs 10 are often fixed to the ground surface with anchor bolts or the like.

[0036] In the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 on the left side of Figure 8, cargo is loaded and unloaded in a work area below the slope, and the protection extension part 5 protrudes diagonally downward to match the inclination angle of the slope. On the right side of FIG. 8, on the other hand, cargo is loaded and unloaded on the upper side of the slope, and here too the protective extension portion 5 protrudes diagonally upward in accordance with the angle of inclination. FIG. 9 shows a simplified situation in which the unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 is used at a work site with a highly uneven ground surface. This situation is assumed to be a work environment in which the unmanned aerial vehicle cannot approach from the left side of FIG. 9 due to the presence of trees, etc. In such a case, even if the protection extension unit 5 is moved to the side or diagonally upward, it is difficult to expand the protection range in the horizontal direction. Therefore, by moving the protection extension unit 5 diagonally downward and keeping it horizontal, it is possible to secure a wider work area in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the differences in the placement and usage methods of such unmanned aerial vehicle direct below work protection device 1 are determined appropriately based on a comprehensive judgment of the local situation, including the environment of the loading and unloading work site, including the flight conditions of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the shape and weight of the cargo, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 Protection device for work directly below unmanned aircraft 2 Protection section 3 Support part 4 Introduction 5. Protective Extension 6 Moving mechanism 7 Guide rail 8 Suspension pulley 9 Height adjustment mechanism 10 Legs 11 Angle adjustment mechanism 12 Support plate

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device comprising a protective section which protects a worker from falling objects and a support section which holds the protective section above the worker's head, and one or more recesses are provided on part of the outer edge of the protective section to serve as an introduction section through which a worker can pull a rope hanging from the unmanned aerial vehicle along the recesses.

2. An unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device comprising a protective section which protects a worker from falling objects and a support section which holds the protective section above the worker's head, the protective section further having one or more protective extension sections, the protective extension sections being movable laterally by a moving mechanism, and one or more recesses being provided on part of the outer edge of the protective extension sections as lead-in sections through which a worker can pull a rope hanging from the unmanned aerial vehicle along the recesses.

3. An unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device comprising a protective section which protects a worker from falling objects and a support section which holds the protective section above the worker's head, one or more recesses being provided on part of the outer edge of the protective section to serve as an introduction section where a worker can pull in a rope hanging down from the unmanned aerial vehicle along the recesses, and the support section being capable of adjusting the height and inclination of the protective section using a height adjustment mechanism.

4. An unmanned aerial vehicle work protection device comprising a protective section that protects a worker from falling objects and a support section that holds the protective section above the worker's head, the protective section further having one or more protective extension sections, the protective extension section being movable laterally by a movement mechanism and the protective extension section being movable diagonally by an angle adjustment mechanism, one or more recesses being provided on part of the outer edge of the protective extension section to serve as an introduction section for a worker to pull a rope hanging from the unmanned aerial vehicle along the recesses, and the support section being capable of adjusting the height and inclination of the protective section and the protective extension section by a height adjustment mechanism.

Images