Adjustable UAV Landing Gear for Stable Sloped-Surface Landing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UAV landing gear systems fail to accommodate uneven and sloping surfaces effectively, leading to instability and potential damage during landing, especially when carrying fragile payloads.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable landing gear assembly with rotatable members and extendable/contractible landing gear extensions that can adjust to maintain the UAV's body horizontal, equipped with shock absorption capabilities and a payload disengagement mechanism to ensure safe landing and delivery of payloads on various surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the landing gear assembly is fixed and non-adjustable, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the UAV cannot maintain stability on uneven or sloping surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The landing gear assembly incorporates adjustable extensions that can dynamically change length to adapt to uneven terrain. The rotatable member allows the UAV body to rotate independently from the landing gear, enabling the gear to remain stationary on the ground while the UAV orients itself for stable landing on sloping surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The landing gear assembly is divided into separate functional components: a base, extendable landing gear extensions, and a rotatable member coupling the UAV body to the gear. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving adaptability without excessive overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the landing gear assembly includes rotatable members and adjustable extensions, then the adaptability to uneven surfaces is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The landing gear assembly incorporates adjustable extensions that can dynamically change length to adapt to uneven terrain. The rotatable member allows the UAV body to rotate independently from the landing gear, enabling the gear to remain stationary on the ground while the UAV orients itself for stable landing on sloping surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable member serves multiple functions: it couples the UAV body to the landing gear, allows independent rotation of the UAV, and enables the UAV to orient itself for stable landing while keeping the landing gear stationary. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the landing gear extensions are extended to absorb shock, then the protection of fragile payloads is improved, but the landing gear assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The landing gear extensions are configured to extend before landing to absorb shock forces. This preliminary extension creates a cushioning effect that protects the UAV body and payload from impact damage during landing on uneven surfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing gear assembly that includes adjustable landing gear extensions (251) that may be extended or contracted so that the body of the UAV is contained in a horizontal plane when the UAV is landed, even on sloping surfaces. For example, when a UAV is landing, the slope of the surface may be determined and the landing gear extensions (251) adjusted based on the slope so that the body of the UAV remains approximately horizontal when the UAV lands and is supported by the landing gear extensions.