Aircraft Control for Low-Battery Flight Using Sunlight-Based Rerouting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aircrafts face difficulties in maintaining altitude and delivering articles safely due to insufficient lift force caused by depleted battery power, leading to potential damage from ground contact.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus equipped with a battery and photovoltaic apparatus that decides when the battery power is low, estimates a location with sufficient light using sensors, and controls the aircraft to move to that location for power generation, ensuring stable electric supply and preventing altitude loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the aircraft uses only battery power for flight, then the aircraft can maintain altitude and deliver articles safely, but the battery may be exhausted leading to insufficient lift force and potential article damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two power sources (battery and photovoltaic apparatus) into a hybrid power system. The battery serves as the primary power source during flight, while the photovoltaic apparatus serves as a supplementary power source that can be utilized when the aircraft lands or hovers, thereby extending operational duration and ensuring reliable article delivery without complete battery exhaustion
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary charging of the battery by utilizing the photovoltaic apparatus during periods when the aircraft is not actively flying or during hover phases. This preliminary energy accumulation ensures that sufficient power is available for the next flight mission, preventing battery exhaustion and maintaining reliable operation
2Use of energy by moving object
If the aircraft lands to recharge battery using photovoltaic apparatus, then electric power can be replenished, but flight time is reduced and delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic power generation using the photovoltaic apparatus during scheduled intervals when the aircraft returns to base or hovers between delivery missions. This periodic charging approach allows the battery to be replenished in cycles without requiring extended ground time, maintaining high delivery efficiency while ensuring continuous power availability
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus dynamically manages power source selection based on real-time battery status and mission requirements. When battery power is sufficient, the aircraft continues flying; when battery power drops below thresholds, the system automatically transitions to utilizing photovoltaic power or initiating return-to-base procedures, optimizing the balance between power replenishment and delivery efficiency
3Productivity
If the aircraft continues flight with low battery power, then delivery mission can be completed, but altitude may be lost and articles may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus continuously monitors battery power levels and provides feedback to the flight control system. When battery power drops below predetermined thresholds during flight, the system receives feedback signals and automatically adjusts flight parameters or initiates return-to-base procedures, ensuring that the aircraft maintains sufficient power for safe altitude control and article protection throughout the mission
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
Stably supplies electric power to the aircraft, preventing altitude loss and article damage by generating power when battery levels are low, thereby ensuring safe delivery.
Implementation Method 1
an aircraft including, as a power source, a battery and a photovoltaic apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus includes a decision unit, a destination point determination unit, and an aircraft control unit. The decision unit decides, when an aircraft flies by using a battery unit as a power source, whether a remaining quantity of the battery unit is equal to or less than a reference value. The destination point determination unit estimates, when it is decided that the remaining quantity of the battery unit is equal to or less than the reference value, a location where a light quantity is equal to or more than a reference by using information from various types of sensors mounted on the aircraft. Then, the destination point determination unit determines, as a destination point of the aircraft, the estimated location. The aircraft control unit controls a mechanism of the aircraft so as to move the aircraft to the destination point determined by the destination point determination unit.