Air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles, which can be used in various fields such as public health, defense-security services, environmental pollution monitoring, enhancing agricultural productivity and rapid response in natural disasters, as well as meteorological purposes.

Description

[0001] AIR SAMPLING MODULE DESIGNED FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Air sampling devices are devices used for monitoring and analyzing air quality. These devices capture airborne pollutants, particles, gases and other components. These samples are then analyzed to assess the air quality. Air sampling devices are often used in fields such as environmental sciences, industrial hygiene, health and safety, meteorology and research laboratories.

[0004] Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are aerial vehicles that can fly without the need for a human pilot on and / or in the vehicle and can fly autonomously by remote control or by a pre-programmed route and / or routes, either automatically or according to defined missions.

[0005] PRIOR ART

[0006] Among existing air sampling technologies, stationary stations are the most common and well-established. Stationary air sampling stations used to monitor environmental air quality are usually located at various points in cities. These stations provide continuous data and generally operate with high precision and accuracy. Despite these advantages, their high cost and lack of portability make them unsuitable for meeting all needs.

[0007] Mobile air sampling devices have been developed for situations where stationary stations are not sufficient. Although they are not generally lightweight devices, they can be transported by vehicles or with certain equipment, enabling air sampling in the desired areas. Portability allows for sampling over larger areas compared to stationary stations. However, there are still areas that are not accessible due to device size / weight, local conditions, etc.

[0008] For hard-to-reach areas, sampling is carried out by fixing mobile stations to unmanned aerial vehicles. Existing solutions often fail to deliver the desired performance due to factors such as limited battery life, inadequate data communication, and the absence of remote control features, as these devices are large, heavy, and not designed for this type of application. Due to incompatible body designs, the connection methods to aerial vehicles also create highly unfavorable conditions. Despite being mounted on UAVs, they function merely as mobile air stations due to these problems.

[0009] UAVs can be used in air sampling systems for the following reasons:

[0010] Air Quality Monitoring: They can be used to monitor air pollution near industrial plants or in urban areas. This information can provide important data for identifying pollution sources and developing environmental policies.

[0011] Monitoring in Disaster Areas: Monitoring air quality during fires, chemical leaks or other hazardous situations is crucial to ensure the safety of people.

[0012] Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring: In agricultural areas, they can be used to monitor plant health and assess the environmental impact of agricultural activities. They can also be helpful in activities such as monitoring the effects of pesticide use, controlling water quality and tracking soil erosion.

[0013] Air Pollution Mapping: They can be used to map air pollution levels in specific areas. This can be an important source of data for urban planning and air pollution control strategies.

[0014] Epidemic Disease Monitoring: They can be used to monitor the spread of epidemics. They can be used to monitor the rate of spread of disease and identify risk areas, especially in the case of airborne diseases.

[0015] Current applications utilize stationary or portable air samplers which are larger in size and heavier in weight. These devices are controlled either wired or wirelessly from a close distance. Measurements are taken at ground level or from limited heights by elevation using certain mechanisms. Logistical factors such as installation and transportation for measurements at different locations result in a loss of time. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The invention overcomes the aforementioned technical problems of the prior art with its module size, weight, mechanical connection structure, electronically controlled protocol, low energy consumption, high air sampling volume per minute, wide operating temperature range and easy decontamination. With its replaceable filter technology, it can capture particles of different sizes.

[0017] When mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle and operated via pre-defined protocol commands, it allows sampling from locations

[0018] • which are very hard to access and / or

[0019] • which are inaccessible and / or

[0020] • where there are hazardous ambient conditions for the operator, even if accessible, and / or

[0021] • which, even if accessible, requires significant time and cost to access, using existing methods. It can be easily decontaminated due to its design.

[0022] Description of the Drawings

[0023] Fig. 1 Isometric View of the Module with its Components

[0024] Fig. 2 Isometric View of the Module without Rain Protection

[0025] Fig. 3 Isometric View of the Module from a Different Angle without Rain Protection Fig. 4 Front View of the Module from a Different Angle without Rain Protection Fig. 5 Isometric View of the Module with Open Top for Decontamination

[0026] Reference List

[0027] 1 . Rain protection

[0028] 2. Connection elements of the top cover

[0029] 2.1 . Top cover connection element

[0030] 2.2. Top cover connection element

[0031] 2.3. Top cover connection element

[0032] 3. Exemplary Connection Apparatus

[0033] 3.1. Connection Apparatus Part

[0034] 3.2. Connection Apparatus Part 3.3. Connection Apparatus Part

[0035] 3.4. Connection Apparatus Part

[0036] 4. Module Connection Elements

[0037] 5. Module Connection Points

[0038] 6. Module Top Cover

[0039] 7. Module Body

[0040] 8. Rain Protection Connection Points

[0041] 8.1. Rain Protection Connection Point

[0042] 8.2. Rain Protection Connection Point

[0043] 8.3. Rain Protection Connection Point

[0044] 9. DC Power Connector

[0045] 10. Module On / Off / Mode Switch

[0046] 1 1. Module Status Light

[0047] 12. Module Switch Information Card

[0048] 13. Air Outlet Grid

[0049] 14. Impeller

[0050] 15. Upper plate

[0051] 16. RS232 Connector

[0052] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] In this detailed description, the preferred alternatives of the air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles according to the invention are described solely for the purpose of a better understanding of the subject matter and without any limiting effect.

[0054] The invention has a compact and lightweight structure compared to existing air sampling devices. It samples a large volume of air through its motor and impeller (14). It captures the particles in the passing air through its filter manufactured with electret filter technology. The size of the captured particles may vary depending on the filter used.

[0055] The module according to the invention can be mounted on fixed-wing and / or rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles as a payload, with its universally designed mechanical connection structure (5) and communication protocol. The UAV with the module mounted is controlled to reach the designated measurement location and performs the sampling based on the given command. This process can also take place autonomously with a pre-defined protocol. The airflow rate during sampling can be controlled remotely. Although it provides high airflow, it is designed for low energy consumption, enabling it to continue sampling for longer periods of time. It is designed with a wide operating temperature range (from -40°C to 70°C) for use in different conditions.

[0056] Its easily removable top cover (6) provides access to all internal surfaces that come into contact with the sampled air, facilitating decontamination. For decontamination and use in different conditions, the module is resistant to dust and liquid contact according to the IP67 standard.

[0057] In addition, there is provided an easily removable rain protection (1 ) to prevent weather conditions such as rain and snow from negatively affecting the sampling process. The rain protection connection points (8) are used to attach this rain protection (1 ) part.

[0058] The module is connected directly to an unmanned aerial vehicle via its 4 connection points (5), or to connection apparatus (3), as shown in the example in the figures, by using the module connection elements (4) depicted in the figures. It is then fixed to an unmanned aerial vehicle to realize the mechanical connection. At this stage, it is recommended that the air outlet (13) of the module be positioned preferably on the left or right side, rather than in the commonly used front or rear directions in aerial vehicle, to avoid altering the airflow generated by the movement of the aerial vehicle.

[0059] There is provided a DC power connector (9) on the module. This connector (9) enables the module to receive power from the unmanned aerial vehicle and / or an additional power unit. The supplied voltage value must be between 15-32VDC and support 10 watts of power. The module consumes a maximum of 10 watts of power. When the 3-position switch (10) on the module is in the “ON” position, the motor of the module can be activated and deactivated by turning the power from the connector on or off. The sampling process can be carried out with this method. There is provided a module switch information card (12) on the module to indicate the status based on the position of the switch (10).

[0060] There is provided a connector (16) on the module for communication via the RS232 protocol for operations such as detailed control, change of settings, update, etc. Through this connector, detailed settings can be made and the module can be managed by communicating with the module electronics. When the 3-position switch (10) on the module is in the “RS232” position, detailed management can be performed remotely via this connector.

[0061] Once the module is attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle, set to the desired position via the 3-position switch (10) and the electret filter is attached to the top cover (6) of the module, the module is ready for sampling. The aerial vehicle can then reach the desired location(s) either autonomously or by the operator and perform the required sampling processes.

[0062] After the sampling process, the module must be decontaminated to remove any remaining particles on the module and to prevent them from affecting the next sampling process. For decontamination, the rain protection (1 ) must first be removed, if used. Then the connection elements (2) of the top cover must be removed so that the top cover (6) of the module is separated from the module. The upper plate (15), impeller (14) and the removed top cover (6) of the exposed module (also the rain protection (1 ), if used) must be decontaminated. 1 -5% sodium hypochlorite (NACIO) is used for this process. Different chemicals can also be used, depending on preference.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . An air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles, characterized in that it comprises- a communication protocol that allows management autonomously and / or remotely by an operator,- one or more connection points (5) for universal connection to aerial vehicles,- a structure consisting of a motor, impeller (14), and module top cover (6), which allows generating a high airflow to direct the air to be sampled,- a DC power connector (9), which allows it to be electrically powered from the aerial vehicle or an external power source,- a mechanical design that can be quickly disassembled, allowing for easy decontamination after sampling.

2. The air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a connector (16) on the module for communication.

3. The air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that the connection with the aerial vehicle is made directly and / or by means of a connection apparatus (3) or apparatus (3.1 , 3.2).

4. The air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that 1-5% sodium hypochlorite (NACIO) is preferably used for cleaning the contaminated module.

5. The air sampling module designed for unmanned aerial vehicles according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a filter to capture particles in the generated airflow.

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