Airborne Battery Conveyor for In-Flight UAV Replacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electric aerial vehicles are limited in flight range due to the inability to refuel during flight, requiring them to return to a maintenance center for battery recharge.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor arrangement for airborne battery replacement between an aerial supply vehicle and an electric aerial vehicle, allowing for the exchange of batteries during flight using a conveyor system with rollers and a power line for continuous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If electric aerial vehicles use onboard batteries for power, then they can operate without liquid fuel, but their flight range is limited because they must return to ground for recharging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy source for aerial vehicleVSAvoidflight range

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an aerial supply vehicle as an intermediary that carries replacement batteries and transfers them to the electric aerial vehicle during flight. This mediator enables the electric aerial vehicle to extend its operational range without returning to ground for recharging, effectively resolving the contradiction between using battery power and maintaining limited flight range

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If electric aerial vehicles return to maintenance center for battery recharging, then batteries can be recharged, but operational continuity is interrupted and flight time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery recharging capabilityVSAvoidflight time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The aerial supply vehicle carries pre-charged replacement batteries and performs airborne battery replacement before the electric aerial vehicle's batteries are completely depleted. This preliminary action prevents the need to return to ground for recharging, maintaining operational continuity and eliminating flight time loss while ensuring battery reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If conventional refueling technologies are used for aerial vehicles, then liquid fuel can be supplied during flight, but these technologies are not applicable to electrically driven UAVs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefueling capability during flightVSAvoidapplicability to electric aerial vehicles

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of what is being transferred during aerial refueling - instead of transferring liquid fuel, the system transfers solid battery packs. This parameter change adapts the concept of aerial refueling to electric aerial vehicles, enabling ease of operation during flight while maintaining versatility across different aerial vehicle types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12233728B2Conveyor arrangement for aerial vehicles

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A conveyor arrangement for airborne battery replacement between an aerial supply vehicle having a store of replacement batteries suitable to power electric aerial vehicles and an electric aerial vehicle powered by a set of replaceable batteries is disclosed. The conveyor arrangement is configured to convey batteries between the aerial supply vehicle and the electric aerial vehicle during flight to replace a replaceable battery from the set of the electric aerial vehicle by a replacement battery from the store of the aerial supply vehicle.