Autonomous Medium-Changing Drone With Reversible Ballasting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater drones require mechanical devices to be submerged from a carrier, limiting their operational flexibility and requiring specialized equipment.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or remote-controlled machine equipped with a waterproof structure, propulsion system, ballasting system, and payload, capable of transitioning from air to underwater operations without mechanical assistance, using a reversible ballasting system and adjustable propulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If underwater drones use mechanical devices for submersion from a carrier, then they can be deployed underwater, but they require specialized equipment and limited operational flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ballasting system as a separate, self-contained module that can be independently mounted on the drone structure. This modular ballasting system includes a ballast tank and pumping mechanism that can be added to existing aerial drones without requiring complex mechanical submersion devices, thereby eliminating the need for specialized carrier equipment while maintaining deployment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The drone is designed with universal mounting interfaces and a multi-functional propulsion system that can operate in both air and water environments. The ballasting system integrates with the existing structure through standardized mounting points, allowing the same drone platform to perform aerial missions and underwater missions without requiring different specialized equipment for each medium
2Adaptability or versatility
If aerial drones are used for long-distance missions, then they can operate from land or far from target, but they cannot dive underwater to carry out underwater missions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a dynamic ballasting system with variable ballast tanks that can adjust buoyancy in real-time. The pumping mechanism can selectively fill or empty ballast tanks based on the desired operational state (aerial or underwater), allowing the drone to dynamically transition between media. This dynamic control is achieved through electronic actuators that respond to flight control system commands, enabling seamless medium changes without permanent structural modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The ballasting system is segmented into multiple independent ballast tanks distributed throughout the drone structure. Each tank can be independently controlled by dedicated pumping mechanisms, allowing selective ballasting of different sections. This segmentation provides fine-grained control over buoyancy distribution and enables stable transitions between aerial and underwater operations while maintaining operational flexibility
3Ease of operation
If underwater drones require mechanical launch from surface vessel, then they can be deployed, but they cannot be operated from surface vessels without such mechanical devices
Solution Approach 1:
The drone incorporates self-service deployment capabilities through its integrated ballasting system that enables autonomous water entry. The drone can self-submerge by activating its ballasting system upon contact with water, eliminating the need for external mechanical assistance such as winches or cranes. This self-service capability allows deployment from any surface vessel regardless of whether it is equipped with specialized mechanical devices
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes in the ballasting system to enable deployment from diverse carriers. By controlling the ballast tank volume and density parameters, the drone can adjust its overall density to match different deployment scenarios. This parameter control allows the same drone to be deployed from small boats, large ships, or even directly from land into water, greatly expanding carrier compatibility without requiring mechanical launch equipment
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
Enables underwater missions without the need for mechanical submersion, allowing operation from any surface ship and providing modularity for various payloads and missions.
Implementation Method 1
a chamber having an internal volume being defined between the tube and the piston, the movement of the piston in the tube causing a modification of the internal volume of the chamber so as to modify the buoyancy of the craft
Data Source
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AI summary
The autonomous or remote-controlled medium-changing vehicle (1) comprises a structure (2) on which are mounted at least one propulsion unit (4), a ballast system (6) and at least one payload (8), the vehicle (1) being watertight, at least the ballast system (6) being reversibly mounted on the structure (2) by at least one clipping element (30).