Amphibious Drone Sealed Body and Snorkel Intake for Water Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing small, unmanned aircraft systems (drones) are not designed for amphibious use in water environments, leading to electrical shorts and component malfunctions due to water exposure, and they struggle to navigate harsh marine conditions and recover safely.

Innovation Solution

The development of an amphibious small unmanned aerial aircraft system (ASUMAAS) with a hermetically sealed main body, strategically positioned rotors, snorkel air intake, floatation devices, and a parachute deployment apparatus, allowing it to operate in water environments and withstand high winds and sea spray.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If traditional drone designs are used without protective hardware, then weight is minimized, but water intrusion causes electrical shorts and component malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrone weightVSAvoidwater resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies hermetic sealing using protective coatings and sealed enclosures to prevent water intrusion while maintaining lightweight construction. The main body is coated with protective materials that form a water-resistant barrier without adding significant weight, allowing the drone to operate in aquatic environments reliably.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Speed

If rotors are positioned lower for better aerodynamics, then flight performance is improved, but water spray and waves can directly impact the main body and components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight performanceVSAvoidwater spray impact

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the rotors at a higher elevation above the main body, changing the vertical spatial arrangement. This dimensional adjustment creates clearance between the rotors and water spray sources, allowing the drone to maintain optimal rotor positioning for aerodynamic performance while preventing water intrusion from below.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a snorkel structure as an intermediary element that provides air intake to the main body. The snorkel extends above the rotor level, allowing the drone to breathe air without exposing vulnerable components to water spray, thus mediating between the need for air supply and protection from water.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If amphibious protective features are added to the drone, then water environment operation is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamphibious capabilityVSAvoidprotective hardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the main body with multi-functional characteristics: it serves as both the structural housing and the water-resistant barrier through integrated hermetic sealing. The protective coating system provides both structural integrity and water protection in a single integrated solution, reducing overall system complexity while enabling amphibious operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If the drone is designed for hard surface landing, then recovery is simple, but structural components may be damaged in harsh marine environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery simplicityVSAvoidstructural durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a parachute deployment apparatus that provides cushioning protection before the drone contacts the ground or water surface. The parachute reduces landing impact forces, protecting structural components from damage during recovery operations in harsh marine environments while maintaining relatively simple recovery procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 ASUMAAS effectively navigates and operates in harsh aquatic environments, including high winds and sea spray, while maintaining system integrity and enabling safe recovery through the use of specialized floatation and parachute systems.

Implementation Method 1

the hermetically sealing of the main body while allowing air and fluid flow through the main body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHermetic sealing: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

embodiments include additional floatation devices as well as a parachute deployment apparatus to improve the aircraft's survivability under rough and wet conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

allowing air and fluid flow through the main body from a snorkel air intake strategically positioned slightly higher than the rotors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 4

a parachute deployment apparatus to improve the aircraft's survivability under rough and wet conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS12269622B1Amphibious small unmanned aerial aircraft system (ASUMAAS)

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 TAYLOR & LEGO HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Presented is a small, unmanned aircraft systems (aka drone) configured for amphibious use in water environments. Also presented is a capture device for the capture and recovery of a small, unmanned aircraft system.