Battery Shifting for VTOL Center of Gravity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft designs face inefficiencies and suboptimal performance due to fixed battery positions, leading to imbalanced center of gravity and increased power consumption during flight transitions and hovering.
Innovation Solution
A system for shifting batteries within the aircraft to adjust the center of gravity, utilizing a controller and actuator mechanisms to move batteries between predefined positions based on flight angles and modes, optimizing the aircraft's balance and reducing rotor load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If batteries are fixed in position, then the aircraft structure is simple, but the center of gravity cannot be aligned with the center of thrust during flight transitions, leading to increased power consumption and reduced stability
Solution Approach 1:
The battery holder is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between different positions (first position during vertical flight, second position during horizontal flight) to dynamically align the center of gravity with the center of thrust, thereby reducing power consumption and improving stability during flight transitions
Solution Approach 2:
The battery holder serves multiple functions: it holds the battery in place during vertical flight, moves to a different position during horizontal flight to optimize center of gravity alignment, and can be controlled automatically by the controller based on flight mode, eliminating the need for separate systems for each flight phase
2Reliability
If batteries are shifted to different positions, then the center of gravity can be optimized for different flight modes, but the device complexity increases due to additional actuators and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically controls the movement of the battery holder between positions based on the detected flight mode (vertical or horizontal), eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring that the center of gravity is always optimally positioned for the current flight phase, thereby improving flight stability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the controller to detect the current flight mode and provides feedback control by automatically adjusting the battery holder position accordingly, ensuring that the center of gravity remains aligned with the center of thrust during transitions, which enhances flight stability without requiring complex manual control systems
3Temperature
If batteries remain in a fixed position, then the device is simpler to manufacture, but the speed controllers overheat due to increased rotor load during flight transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The battery holder is designed to dynamically reposition between vertical and horizontal flight modes, automatically adjusting the center of gravity to reduce rotor load during transitions, which prevents speed controller overheating without complicating the manufacturing process excessively
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a system for battery shifting for center of gravity (CG) control includes a battery holder and a controller. The battery holder is adapted to change between a first battery position and a second battery position in a vehicle. The battery holder being in the first position causes the vehicle to have a first CG and the battery holder being in the second position causes the vehicle to have a second CG. The controller is configured to move the battery holder into the first position at least some of the time when the vehicle is flying at a first angle such that the vehicle has a CG in a first vehicle location, and move the battery holder into the second position at least some of the time when the vehicle is flying at a second angle such that the vehicle has a CG in a second vehicle location.