Multifunctional drone box

Abstract

The invention relates to equipment for launching and operating drones. A multifunctional box for a vertical takeoff and landing drone comprises a landing platform and a cover. The cover is configured in the form of movable doors that are capable of opening automatically, aided by measurement of the strength of a radio signal from a drone as said drone approaches the box. The inside of the box is configured to allow a given temperature and humidity to be maintained. The box has a ventilation aperture that is able to open and close. The result is an increase in the operational autonomy of a vertical takeoff and landing drone as well as a reduction in the time required to launch a drone.

Description

[0001] MULTIFUNCTIONAL BOX FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The invention relates to transport equipment, in particular, to infrastructure equipment for launching and operating unmanned aerial vehicles with vertical takeoff and landing [B60L53 / 30 B64F1 / 00 B64C27 / 08].

[0004] The prior art discloses an AUTOMATIC AIRFIELD SYSTEM FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE [CN 205891275 U, published 2017-01-18], comprising a console, a wireless communication antenna, an apron, a cargo handling platform and a battery replacement platform, wherein the cargo handling platform includes a first loading arm and a storage unit. The battery replacement platform comprises a second loading / unloading arm, a battery charging board and a battery storage bin. The console is electrically connected to the wireless communication antenna, the apron pressure sensor, the first loading sleeve and the second loading sleeve, respectively.

[0005] The disadvantage of the analogue is the low degree of autonomy of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

[0006] Also known from the prior art is an UNMANNED WORKSTATION FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE [CN 209700970 U, published 2019-11-29], comprising a van body and an unmanned aerial vehicle located in the van body, an electric lifting platform is located in the van body, an infrared emitter is located at the take-off and landing point of the electric lifting platform; a satellite positioning system is located on the unmanned aerial vehicle; the infrared receiver is located at the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle; the unmanned aerial vehicle is controlled to take off and land at a fixed point using infrared signals and a satellite positioning system.At the upper end of the van body there are two hatch covers that open in a relative sliding mode, solar panels are located on the upper surfaces of the hatch covers, and on the body of the van there is an additional meteorological communication system, including an antenna, a temperature and humidity sensor, a wind speed sensor and a rotating surveillance camera.

[0007] Another disadvantage of this analogue is the low degree of autonomy of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

[0008] The closest in technical essence to the claimed invention is the DRONE HANGAR [KR 101975397 B1, published 2019-05-07], which comprises: left and right doors containing left and right chains connected so that they are located opposite each other and move in the horizontal and vertical directions around the chain sprocket when the engine rotates in the forward or reverse direction, as well as a shutter connected to the left and right chains through a mount. The doors open or close on the left and right sides in accordance with an opening and closing signal during takeoff or landing of the drone. A takeoff and landing platform connected to the left and right chains through a mount and a bracket, which must rise and fall in connection with the movement of the left and right doors so that the drone can take off and land.If the motor rotates normally by the remote signal, when the drone takes off or lands, the chains connected to the sprocket move, and the left and right doors connected to the chain through the mount and bracket open to the left and right. At the same time, the landing platform is raised so that the drone can take off or land on the landing platform through the open left and right doors, and then if the motor rotates in the opposite direction, the chains move to the other side, and the left and right doors are closed. In this way, the drone can be taken out and put back into the hangar, which ensures safe takeoff and landing.

[0009] The main technical problem of the prototype is the impossibility of providing a significant degree of autonomy in the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The objective of the invention is to eliminate the shortcomings of the prototype.

[0010] The technical result of the invention consists in providing the possibility of achieving a significant degree of autonomy in the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing. In addition, another aspect of the technical result of the present invention is a significant reduction in the time required to launch the drone.

[0011] The technical result is achieved due to the fact that the multifunctional box for an unmanned aerial vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing contains a landing platform and a roof, wherein the roof is made in the form of sliding flaps that have the ability to automatically open when an unmanned aerial vehicle approaches the box, and the internal space of the box is made with the ability to maintain a specified temperature and humidity.

[0012] In particular, maintaining the set temperature is achieved by means of an air heating system.

[0013] In particular, the determination of the approach of an unmanned aerial vehicle to the box is carried out by measuring the level of the radio signal of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

[0014] In particular, the sliding roof sashes are heated.

[0015] In particular, the box comprises at least one ventilation opening.

[0016] In particular, the box contains a weather station.

[0017] In particular, the landing platform is provided with contact pads for charging the battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle, or a wireless charging system for the unmanned aerial vehicle is placed on the landing platform.

[0018] In particular, the box is designed with the ability to self-diagnose its equipment, as well as with the ability to diagnose an unmanned aerial vehicle.

[0019] In particular, the sliding doors are designed with the ability to be forced to open upon command from the operator.

[0020] In particular, the box is designed with the ability to accommodate more than one unmanned aerial vehicle.

[0021] Brief description of the drawings.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows the box from the side in a closed state.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows the box from the side in the open state.

[0024] Fig.3 shows the box from above in a closed state.

[0025] Fig. 4 shows the box from above in the open state.

[0026] Fig. 5 shows the diagram of the box operation.

[0027] The figures show: 1 - multifunctional box, 2 - sliding roof flaps, 3 - antenna, 4 - unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), 5 - landing platform, 6 - ventilation hole.

[0028] Unmanned aerial vehicles with vertical takeoff and landing are increasingly used in various industries and areas of human activity. In particular, drones can be used to inspect agricultural land, power lines and their supports, various industrial buildings, pipes, masts, bridges, other infrastructure facilities, etc. At the same time, modern unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of automatically flying around objects and automatically collecting information about their condition. Unmanned aerial vehicles can also be controlled remotely via the Internet.

[0029] However, to launch a drone, as well as to service it, charge the battery, etc., direct human participation is required. In order to automate these processes, developments are underway to introduce drone boxes that allow them to be launched automatically.

[0030] Such boxes can be installed on the roofs of buildings or on cars and serve as a launch pad for unmanned aerial vehicles with vertical takeoff and landing. However, existing solutions have a number of disadvantages, namely:

[0031] - when the drone takes off, the roofs of the boxes remain open, which is why atmospheric precipitation can get into them;

[0032] - moisture that gets into the interior of the box causes corrosion of the metal parts of the box and / or the parked drone;

[0033] - since unmanned aerial vehicles use chemical power sources (usually lithium-ion batteries), their capacity largely depends on their temperature, since the rate of chemical reactions in the chemical power source depends on it, and, therefore, in cold weather, the flight time can be up to two times less than in warm weather; in addition, using a cold battery significantly reduces its service life.

[0034] These factors ultimately significantly reduce the degree of autonomy of drone use, as they increase the frequency of maintenance of the box and the aircraft. This invention largely solves these problems.

[0035] This multifunctional box for the drone can be installed on the roof of a building or on a vehicle such as a car, a ship or an aircraft. The installation of the box allows you to fix the initial point of the drone "Home". This point is the reference point for the drone, to which it returns when the "Home" function is activated - this happens either after completing a flight mission or in the event of an emergency (drone malfunction or loss of communication). In addition, the drone can return to the "Home" point upon command from the operator.

[0036] At the same time, the multifunctional box can have a built-in global satellite navigation system for automatic installation and correction of the coordinates of the “Home” point.

[0037] The multifunctional box also has a landing platform 5, designed for takeoff from it and landing on it of the unmanned aerial vehicle 4, while the landing platform 5 can have an area sufficient for landing on it of several drones 4. On the landing platform 5 there are contact pads (not shown in the figure) for charging the drone battery. The counterpart of the contact pads (current-collecting tips) can be located on the legs of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Or a system for wireless charging of the unmanned aerial vehicle using induction coils can be placed on the platform.

[0038] Additionally, the landing platform 5 can be equipped with an electromagnetic grip for more precise landing and holding of the drone. (Here it should be noted that the design features of the drones are not the subject of the present invention, and, therefore, the design features of the contact pads and / or means of holding the aircraft can have different implementations.)

[0039] On top of the multifunctional box there is a roof made in the form of sliding doors 2. The roof and the landing platform 5 form the internal space of the box 1, and the sliding doors 2 allow this internal space to be opened and closed.

[0040] Fig. 5 shows the operation diagram of sliding flaps 2: a) Drone 4 flies up to box 1, which determines the proximity of the drone by means of radio wave radiation. b) After determining the presence of drone 4 nearby, box 1 transmits a command to it about the possibility of landing, for which roof flaps 2 move apart, and the drone takes a position above the box. c) After the roof flaps 2 are fully opened, box 1 transmits a command to drone 4, which lands on landing platform 5. d) When aircraft 4 places its charging contacts on the charging contacts of landing platform 5, box 1 records the landing of drone 4 and closes roof flaps 2. In this case, the fact that drone 4 is nearby can be determined by measuring the level of the radio wave signal emanating from aircraft 4 by box 1. For example, sliding flaps 2 can open at a drone radio signal level of -30 dBm and higher.

[0041] In addition, sliding sashes 2 can be opened and closed manually, that is, forcibly by the operator’s command.

[0042] While the aircraft 4 is in the box 1, the required temperature (15-20 °C) and humidity are maintained in the internal space of the box 1. This is done in order to maintain the battery and the electrical part of the drone 4 in optimal working condition.

[0043] To determine the required temperature, a built-in compact weather station is used, which determines the temperature of the external environment, and taking it into account, the heating of the internal space is switched on. At the same time, in order to avoid the formation of a greenhouse effect in the internal space of box 1 and, accordingly, to prevent overheating of drone 4, its active ventilation (airing) is carried out. Ventilation of the internal space is carried out through ventilation hole 6, which can be opened and closed. In addition, a fan can be installed in ventilation hole 6 for forced ventilation.

[0044] Ventilation of the interior space is also necessary if the aircraft is exposed to rain (snow), or if precipitation gets into the interior of the box when the roof is opened. The presence of active ventilation of the interior of box 1 allows you to prevent moisture from accumulating on the metal parts of drone 4 or box 1, thereby increasing their service life.

[0045] In addition to determining the ambient temperature and the presence of precipitation, the weather station can be used to determine the direction and strength of the wind. In the case of a strong squall, the box 1 can block the opening of the sliding curtains 2, thereby blocking the takeoff of the drone 4.

[0046] Also, box 1 can perform the functions of a base station for aircraft 4. Constant radio communication with aircraft 4 allows receiving both basic information (data from a conventional camera, data from an infrared camera, etc.) and service information about it (diagnostic information, information about the state of the drone's engines, its battery, etc.). Communication with the aircraft is carried out through external antenna 2.

[0047] To prevent icing of the roof of the box, as well as to throw off snow from it, sliding curtains 2 can be additionally equipped with a heating system, which can be made on the basis of a heating wire made of carbon fiber.

[0048] Example 1 of the invention.

[0049] For periodic inspection of a manufacturing plant with an area of ​​approximately 300,000 sq. m in the Kursk region, a box manufactured in accordance with the present invention was installed on one of the buildings. The box was made of 2 mm thick ABS plastic, and its dimensions were 90 by 80 cm.

[0050] The landing platform was color-coded to allow precise guidance of the drone using the aircraft's machine vision system.

[0051] A power supply unit and a Raspberry Pi microcomputer were installed inside the sealed compartment, to which an external unit of the DAVIS Instruments Vantage Pro2 6152CEU weather station, a GPS antenna, a radio module for communication with the drone, and a power unit for controlling the electric drive of the sliding curtains, the air heating system, the electric drive for opening the ventilation opening, and the fan were connected. In addition, the Raspberry Pi microcomputer was connected to the enterprise's local network via an Ethernet cable. To power all low-current and power electronics, as well as to charge the battery of the unmanned vehicle, the box was connected to a standard single-phase 220 V network.

[0052] A set of flight tasks for flying around and photographing various industrial buildings and structures was loaded into the drone's service memory. After completing each flight task, the unmanned vehicle, already parked in the box, transmitted via radio the photo and video materials obtained during the flight task to the internal memory of the Raspberry Pi microcomputer. This information was then transmitted via the local network to the enterprise's local server.

[0053] The number of drone flights ranged from 1 to 3 per day, depending on weather conditions and the specifics of the flight missions.

[0054] As a result, this prototype was in fully autonomous use on the territory of the production enterprise from 02 / 25 / 2022 to 08 / 07 / 2022. This autonomous operation period significantly exceeded the autonomous operation period of all existing analogues.

[0055] In case of serial production of a multifunctional box, the period of fully autonomous use can be increased several times.

[0056] Example 2 of the invention.

[0057] For a visual inspection of the perimeter of the same enterprise, a solution similar to that described in example 1 was developed. The difference was that in this case the drone was launched manually by the operator and the flight around the territory was also performed manually by the operator.

[0058] When a signal about a breach of the enterprise perimeter arrived at the security console, the operator launched an unmanned aerial vehicle for a visual inspection of the perimeter breach zone. After studying the situation, the operator activated the "return home" mode and the drone automatically returned to the box. At the same time, the drone had the ability to be controlled remotely, including via the Internet.

[0059] Since the drone was in the box with a fully charged battery and in optimal working condition each time before takeoff, this multifunctional box allowed us to significantly reduce the drone launch time, thereby increasing the speed of response in the event of emergency situations.

[0060] Thus, due to the fact that the multifunctional box for an unmanned aerial vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing contains a landing platform and a roof, wherein the roof is made in the form of sliding flaps that have the ability to automatically open when an unmanned aerial vehicle approaches the box, and the internal space of the box is made with the ability to maintain a specified temperature and humidity, the following technical results are achieved: quick launch of the drone; increased reliability of drone operation; increased degree of autonomy of drone use.

Claims

FORMULA 1. A multifunctional box for an unmanned aerial vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing, comprising a landing platform and a roof, wherein the roof is made in the form of sliding flaps that have the ability to automatically open when an unmanned aerial vehicle approaches the box, wherein this approach is determined by measuring the level of the radio signal of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the interior space of the box is designed with the ability to maintain a specified temperature and humidity, in addition, the box contains a ventilation hole that can be opened and closed.

2. A box according to item 1, characterized in that the specified temperature is maintained by means of an air heating system.

3. The box according to item 1, characterized in that the sliding roof flaps are heated.

4. The box according to item 1, characterized in that it contains a weather station.

5. The box according to paragraph 1, characterized in that contact pads for charging the battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle are provided on the landing platform, or a wireless charging system for the unmanned aerial vehicle is placed on the landing platform.

6. The box according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is designed with the ability to self-diagnose its equipment, as well as with the ability to diagnose an unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. A box according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding flaps are designed with the possibility of forced opening upon command from the operator.

8. The box according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is designed with the possibility of placing more than one unmanned aerial vehicle in it. 9

Images