Adaptive Emergency Landing Device for UAVs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current safety systems for aerial vehicles, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned aircraft, do not guarantee a stable and safe emergency landing, as they fail to effectively mitigate the impact of crashes and collisions, particularly in uncontrolled areas where collisions with structures are common.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive emergency landing device equipped with an airbag, fan-driven inflation module, pyrotechnic gas discharge system, failure detection module, and mechanical stabilizers that deploy to ensure a controlled orientation during landing, utilizing sensors for ground proximity detection and independent power sources to manage airbag inflation and venting for optimal impact mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional safety systems are used for emergency landing, then the structure is simple, but the reliability of safe landing is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency landing device is divided into multiple functional modules: airbag module, mechanical stabilizer module, gas discharge activation module, and ground proximity detection module. Each module performs a specific function, and their coordinated operation ensures reliable emergency landing while keeping individual module complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical stabilizers are deployed in advance before impact to ensure proper orientation of the aerial vehicle during landing. The ground proximity detection module activates the system beforehand, and the airbag is inflated prior to impact to mitigate crash forces effectively
2Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical stabilizers are deployed for controlled orientation, then the stability during landing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical stabilizers are designed to be deployable and extendable, transitioning from a compact stored state to an extended operational state during emergency landing. This dynamic configuration provides stable orientation control when needed while minimizing space and complexity during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical stabilizers are configured in a nested or folded arrangement when not in use, allowing them to be stored compactly within the aerial vehicle structure. During deployment, they extend outward to provide the necessary stabilization, effectively hiding complexity within a simple external form
3Reliability
If airbag inflation is adapted based on impact conditions, then the impact mitigation effectiveness is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground proximity detection module provides feedback about the distance to ground and impact conditions. This feedback is used by the gas discharge activation module to adaptively control the airbag inflation process, optimizing impact mitigation effectiveness based on real-time conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the inflation parameters of the airbag based on detected impact conditions. The gas discharge activation module adjusts the amount and rate of gas discharge into the airbag according to the severity and nature of the impending impact, optimizing protection while avoiding unnecessary full inflation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adaptive emergency landing device enables a stable and controlled touchdown of aerial vehicles, effectively mitigating impact forces by adapting airbag inflation and venting based on predicted impact conditions, ensuring the safety of both the vehicle and its equipment.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag inflation module containing at least one fan drive
Implementation Method 2
a pyrotechnic charge together with a detonator placed on an airbag shell within the pre-cut vent opening
Implementation Method 3
a failure detection module, preferably configured as an acceleration sensor to measure the acceleration of the said aerial vehicle
Implementation Method 4
ground proximity detection module
Data Source
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AI summary
The subject of invention is an adaptive emergency landing device for a flying object, especially for an unmanned aerial vehicle, containing an airbag with at least one pre-cut vent opening, an airbag inflation module containing at least one fan drive, gas discharge activation module, failure detection module, power source, and ground proximity detection module characterized in that it contains a pyrotechnic charge (18) together with a detonator (19) placed on an airbag (4) shell within the pre-cut vent opening (17), connected to a detonator module (20); it contains mechanical stabilisers (7) for the spatial orientation of the flying object (1) located above the airbag (4), extending outwards from the flying object (1) in the horizontal plane or at an angle to the horizontal plane during the emergency landing process.