Optical device, light receiver, and unmanned flying device
The integration of a radial and hemispherical optical device with optical fibers into laser receivers on small UGVs and UAVs addresses weight-related performance issues, achieving a 60% weight reduction and a 90-degree to 180-degree light-receiving angle expansion.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024131284
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-20
AI Technical Summary
The weight increase from installing multiple laser receivers on small unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) compromises their driving and flight performance.
An optical device with a radial and hemispherical arrangement of optical fibers is integrated into a laser receiver to expand the light-receiving range without increasing weight, using a 3D-printed thermoplastic resin to maintain a lightweight design.
This configuration reduces weight by 60% and expands the light-receiving angle from 90 to 180 degrees, enhancing the maneuverability of small UGVs and UAVs.
Smart Images
Figure 2026028670000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to optical devices and is applicable, for example, to optical receivers that receive laser beams. [Background technology]
[0002] In recent years, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various sizes have been commercially available for a variety of purposes. Drones, a typical example of UAVs, fly by remote control (radio control) or automatically (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 64328 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] When a small UGV or UAV is equipped with a receiver for receiving a laser beam for wireless data transmission using a laser beam, the weight increase can lead to a decrease in driving and flight performance.
[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can suppress weight increase. Other objects and novel features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] A brief summary of representative aspects of this disclosure follows. That is, the optical device is used as a receiver for receiving a laser beam in wireless data transmission using the laser beam. The optical device gradually changes the bending radius of multiple optical fibers and arranges them in a radial and hemispherical shape to change the angle at which the laser beam is received. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress weight increase. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining wireless data transmission. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the laser transmitter shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the laser receiver shown in FIG. [Figure 4] Fig. 4(a) is a front view showing the light-receiving range of the light receiver shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4(b) is a perspective view showing the light-receiving range of the light receiver shown in Fig. 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a front view illustrating the light receiving range required for a laser receiver mounted on a small drone. [Figure 6] Fig. 6(a) is a perspective view showing a laser receiver mounted on a small drone in a comparative example, and Fig. 6(b) is a perspective view showing the light-receiving range of the laser receiver shown in Fig. 6(a). [Figure 7] Fig. 7(a) is a front view of the small drone shown in Fig. 6(a), and Fig. 7(b) is a front view showing the light receiving range of the laser receiver shown in Fig. 7(a). [Figure 8] 8(a) is a perspective view of the optical device, FIG. 8(b) is a top view of the optical device, and FIG. 8(c) is a front view of the optical device. [Figure 9] Fig. 9(a) is a front view of the optical device shown in Fig. 8(a), and Fig. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view of the optical device shown in Fig. 9(a) taken along line AA. [Figure 10] Fig. 10(a) is a perspective view showing the state before the optical device is attached to the laser receiver, and Fig. 10(b) is a perspective view showing the state after the optical device is attached to the laser receiver. [Figure 11]Fig. 11(a) is a front view showing the light-receiving range of a laser receiver, and Fig. 11(b) is a front view showing the light-receiving range when a light-receiving device is added to the laser receiver. [Figure 12] Fig. 12(a) is a perspective view showing the configuration of a small drone in an embodiment, and Fig. 12(b) is a front view showing the laser reception range of the small drone shown in Fig. 12(a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. However, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted or simplified as appropriate. Furthermore, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations may be omitted.
[0010] (wireless data transmission using laser beams) Fig. 1 is a perspective view for explaining wireless data transmission, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the laser transmitter shown in Fig. 1.
[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, wireless data transmission is configured by, for example, a laser transmitter 2 that emits a laser beam 1 and a laser receiver 3 that receives the laser beam 1 emitted from the laser transmitter 2.
[0012] The laser receiver 3 is mounted on a vehicle, an aircraft, or the like, and receives a laser beam 1 from a laser transmitter 2 directed at the vehicle or aircraft in an outdoor environment. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 6 as an example. The laser transmitter 2 and the laser receiver 3 are disposed at a distance L apart. The distance L is, for example, approximately 100 m to several thousand meters. The laser beam 1 has a wavelength of infrared light (e.g., 905 nm), and is capable of transmitting data such as the time of laser transmission and an equipment-specific number assigned to the laser transmitter 2.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the laser transmitter 2 incorporates an optical lens 4, which allows the laser beam 1 to reach the above-mentioned distance L and to have an arbitrary irradiation range 5.
[0014] A plurality of laser receivers 3 are arranged around the vehicle or aircraft so that no matter where the laser beam 1 is irradiated on the vehicle or aircraft, the laser beam 1 can be received without any gaps. In Fig. 1, a plurality of laser receivers 3 are shown on the front and sides of the vehicle 6.
[0015] (laser receiver) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the laser receiver shown in FIG.
[0016] The laser receiver 3 incorporates an optical sensor device 7 for receiving data contained in the laser beam 1, for example, having a wavelength of 905 nm. The laser receiver 3 includes a wavelength filter 8 that allows the optical sensor device 7 to filter out various wavelengths contained in sunlight. The optical sensor device 7 has a light-receiving range to accurately receive the received data without error. The main body 3a of the laser receiver 3 is approximately cylindrical, with a first circular surface 3b and a second circular surface 3c. The optical sensor device 7 is provided on the first circular surface 3b side. The light-receiving surface of the optical sensor device 7 is parallel to the first circular surface 3b of the main body 3a. In FIG. 3, the first circular surface 3b is located on the upper side, and the second circular surface 3c is located on the lower side. The first circular surface 3b is sometimes referred to as the upper surface, and the second circular surface 3c is sometimes referred to as the lower surface.
[0017] (Light receiving range) Fig. 4(a) is a front view showing the light-receiving range of the light receiver shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4(b) is a perspective view showing the light-receiving range of the light receiver shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b), the optical sensor device 7 is disposed above the laser receiver 3.
[0018] The light receiving range of the laser receiver 3 depends on the performance of the optical sensor device 7, so the angle of the light receiving range 9 cannot be determined in general terms. However, the angle of the light receiving range 9 is generally around 90 degrees, and is never close to 180 degrees. Note that the angle is sometimes expressed in degrees as well as degrees. For ease of understanding, the angle of the light receiving range 9 is assumed to be 90 degrees across the entire circumference (360 degrees).
[0019] As described above, in order to ensure that the laser beam 1 can be received without missing any part of it no matter where the laser beam 1 is irradiated on the vehicle or aircraft, multiple laser receivers 3 must be arranged around the vehicle or aircraft. For vehicles or aircraft that are large in size and weigh several tons, even if dozens of laser receivers 3, each weighing several hundred grams (for example, approximately 100 grams), are installed, there is almost no reduction in maneuverability. However, UGVs and UAVs are often smaller than regular vehicles and aircraft, and therefore installing multiple laser receivers 3 may result in a reduction in driving and flight performance.
[0020] (Laser receiver installation and laser reception range) FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating the light-receiving range required for a laser receiver mounted on a drone. FIG. 6(a) is a perspective view showing a laser receiver mounted on a drone in a comparative example. FIG. 6(b) is a perspective view showing the light-receiving range of the laser receiver shown in FIG. 6(a). FIG. 7(a) is a front view of the drone shown in FIG. 6(a). FIG. 7(b) is a front view showing the light-receiving range of the laser receiver shown in FIG. 7(a).
[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, when a laser transmitter 2 irradiates a laser beam 1 onto a flying drone 10, the entire bottom surface of the drone 10 must be within the light-receiving range 11. Here, the drone 10 is an example of a UAV. As described above, the light-receiving range 9 of the laser receiver 3 is 90 degrees, covering the entire circumference (360 degrees). Therefore, to make the entire bottom surface of the drone 10 the light-receiving range 11, at least four laser receivers 3 must be tilted downward at 45 degrees and arranged on all four sides, as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 7(a). This allows the entire bottom surface of the drone 10 to be within the light-receiving range 11, as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 7(b).
[0022] However, the weight of the laser receiver 3 mounted on the drone 10 increases, and this weight increase can pose a challenge to the flight performance of small drones, which are designed to be as lightweight as possible. Similarly, the weight increase can pose a challenge to the driving performance of small vehicles.
[0023] In the embodiment, the receiver 30 is configured by adding an optical device 12 (described later) to the laser receiver 3 without changing the structure of the laser receiver 3 itself, thereby dramatically expanding the light-receiving range 11 of the receiver 30. This allows the number of laser receivers 3 to be minimized.
[0024] (Optical device structure) Fig. 8(a) is a perspective view of the optical device. Fig. 8(b) is a top view of the optical device shown in Fig. 8(a). Fig. 8(c) is a front view of the optical device shown in Fig. 8(a). Fig. 9(a) is a front view of the optical device shown in Fig. 8(a). Fig. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view of the optical device shown in Fig. 9(a) taken along line AA.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 8(a), the optical device 12 is composed of a hemispherical main portion 12a provided with a plurality of optical fibers 13, and a flange portion 12b extending outward from the end of the main portion 12a and having a plurality (four) of through holes 12c. In Fig. 8(a), the optical fibers 13 are shown passing through the main portion 12a. As shown in Fig. 8(b), multiple inlets of the optical fibers 13 are arranged at equal intervals on multiple concentric circles. As shown in Fig. 8(c), the inlets of the optical fibers 13 are not arranged in the vicinity of the flange portion 12b.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 9(b), the bending radius of the optical fibers 13 is gradually changed, and the optical fibers 13 are arranged in a radial and hemispherical shape to change the receiving angle of the laser beam 1. Here, the bending radius is the radius from the bending position to the bending center when bending. As shown in FIG. 9(b), ten optical fibers 13 are provided in the cross section of the optical device 12 taken along line AA of FIG. 9(a). The exit sides of the optical fibers 13 are configured to be located on the lower surface 12d of the flange portion 12b. The lower surface 12d of the flange portion 12b is also referred to as the flange surface. The entrance side of the optical fiber 13 closest to the flange portion 12b is provided in a portion where the surface of the main portion 12a is approximately perpendicular to the lower surface 12d of the flange portion 12b, and is configured to input the laser beam 1 approximately parallel to the flange surface.
[0027] The optical fiber 13 may be, for example, a GI (great index 9 type MMF (multimode fiber)) suitable for short-distance communication. The optical fiber 13 may be, for example, a general quartz fiber capable of transmitting the laser beam 1 with a wavelength of 905 nm.
[0028] The base material of the optical device 12 can be produced using a 3D printer, and for example, a general thermoplastic resin is used. This makes it possible to make the mass of the optical device 12 50 g or less. Here, a 3D printer refers to a machine that can create a real object based on a three-dimensional digital model.
[0029] (Configuration of receiver) Fig. 10(a) is a perspective view showing the state before the optical device is attached to the laser receiver, and Fig. 10(b) is a perspective view showing the state after the optical device is attached to the laser receiver.
[0030] The receiver 30 in the embodiment includes a laser receiver 3 and an optical device 12. The optical device 12 is attached to a first surface 3b of the laser receiver 3 without any modification to the laser receiver 3. The first surface 3b of the laser receiver 3 is the surface on which the optical sensor device 7 is provided. The lower surface 12d of the flange portion 12b of the optical device 12 faces the upper surface (light-receiving surface) of the optical sensor device 7 of the laser receiver 3, and the optical device 12 is fixed to the first surface 3b of the laser receiver 3 by, for example, inserting a screw into a through-hole 12c provided in the flange portion 12b.
[0031] [Action and effect] By using the optical device 12, it is possible to reduce the weight compared to the case where a plurality of (four) laser receivers 3 shown in FIG. 6 are arranged.
[0032] (Lightweight) 6(a), four laser receivers 3 are used. If the mass of a single laser receiver 3 is 100 g, the total mass of the four laser receivers 3 is 400 g. In the embodiment, one laser receiver 3 is used. If the mass of the single laser receiver 3 is 100 g and the mass of the optical device 12 is 50 g, the total mass of the laser receiver 3 and the optical device 12 is 150 g. The reduced mass is 400 g - 150 g = 250 g, and the weight reduction rate is 250 g ÷ 400 g = 0.625 ≒ 60%.
[0033] Furthermore, by using the optical device 12, it is possible to widen the angle of the laser beam receivable range from 90 degrees to 180 degrees.
[0034] (Widening of light receiving range) Fig. 11(a) is a front view showing the light-receiving range of the laser receiver 3. Fig. 11(b) is a front view showing the light-receiving range when a light-receiving device is added to the laser receiver 3. In Fig. 11(a) and Fig. 11(b), the optical sensor device 7 is disposed above the laser receiver 3.
[0035] 9(b), even if the angle of the receivable range 9 of the laser receiver 3 is set to 90 degrees and the laser beam 1 is received outside the receivable range 9, the laser beam 1 is transmitted inside the optical fiber 13. As a result, the laser receiver 3 can transmit the laser beam 1 to the laser receiver 3 at the angle of the receivable range 9.
[0036] As a result, even if the angle of the light receiving range 9 of the laser receiver 3 is 90 degrees as shown in Figure 11(a), by adding the optical device 12 to the laser receiver 3, the angle of the light receiving range 11 of the receiver 30 is expanded to 180 degrees as shown in Figure 11(b).
[0037] (Drone equipped with a receiver) Fig. 12(a) is a perspective view showing the configuration of a drone in the embodiment, and Fig. 12(b) is a front view showing the laser receiving range of the drone shown in Fig. 12(a).
[0038] The drone 10 includes a main body 10a, an arm 10b extending from the main body 10a, a motor 10c attached to the tip of the arm 10b, and a propeller 10d rotated by the motor 10c. As shown in FIG. 12(a), only one light receiver 30 is attached to the bottom surface of the main body 10a. The optical device 12 is located below the laser receiver 3, and the light receiving surface of the optical sensor device 7 faces downward. This allows the entire bottom surface of the drone 10 to be the light receiving range 11, as shown in FIG. 12(b).
[0039] The disclosure made by the present inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified in various ways. [Explanation of symbols]
[0040] 1: Laser beam 3: Laser receiver 7: Optical sensor device 10: Drones (unmanned flying devices) 12: Optical devices 13: Optical fiber 30: Light receiver
Claims
1. An optical device used in a receiver that receives a laser beam in wireless data transmission using the laser beam, comprising: An optical device in which the bending radius of a plurality of optical fibers is gradually changed and the optical fibers are arranged in a radial and hemispherical shape, thereby changing the angle at which the laser beam is received.
2. 10. The optical device of claim 1, The base material for this optical device can be produced using a 3D printer and is made of thermoplastic resin.
3. The optical device of claim 1 or 2; a laser receiver having an optical sensor device; Equipped with a receiver in which the optical device is mounted opposite the light receiving surface of the optical sensor device of the laser receiver;
4. The optical receiver of claim 3; a main body having one of the light receivers attached to its bottom surface; An unmanned flying device comprising:
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Unmanned mobile control device, unmanned mobile control method, unmanned mobile system
WO2019064328A1