Cargo receiving facility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo receiving systems for unmanned aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing face inefficiencies in energy consumption and cargo damage due to landing and take-off processes, and are challenged by the impact and down-wash generated by the aircraft's rotors when dropping cargo.
Innovation Solution
A cargo receiving facility featuring a net with elasticity matching the cargo mass and openings sized for down-wash pressure, suspended between supports with a transport mechanism that includes slide rails with dampers and wires to absorb impact and guide the cargo to a take-out position, allowing for efficient and safe reception without landing the aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the unmanned aircraft lands on the delivery port to deliver cargo, then the cargo can be delivered safely, but the energy consumption increases and the delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cargo delivery function from the traditional landing-takeoff cycle. By dropping cargo from altitude and using a net to receive it, the system separates the cargo transfer function from the aircraft's landing function, eliminating the need for the aircraft to land and thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining delivery reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The net acts as an intermediary device between the aircraft and the ground. It receives the dropped cargo from the air and transfers it to the ground, serving as a mediator that enables cargo delivery without requiring the aircraft to land, thus resolving the contradiction between delivery safety and energy consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If the cargo is dropped from the unmanned aircraft, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the cargo may be damaged due to impact
Solution Approach 1:
The net is designed with elastic properties to provide beforehand cushioning for the dropped cargo. The elastic net absorbs the impact energy of the falling cargo, protecting it from damage while maintaining the energy-efficient drop delivery method
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the receiving system by using an elastic net with specific elasticity corresponding to the cargo mass. This parameter adjustment allows the system to absorb impact energy effectively, protecting cargo from damage while maintaining the benefits of aerial drop delivery
3Reliability
If the net has small openings to block down-wash, then the cargo reception is improved, but the down-wash pressure may damage the net
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the net's physical parameters by adjusting the opening size to correspond to the down-wash pressure characteristics. The openings are sized to allow controlled passage of air while maintaining cargo reception accuracy, and the net's elasticity is matched to withstand the resulting pressure without structural damage
Solution Approach 2:
The net structure employs local quality variations with different opening sizes and distributions in different regions. This allows the net to selectively block or pass air flow based on local down-wash conditions while maintaining overall structural integrity and cargo reception functionality
4Strength
If the net has large openings to reduce down-wash pressure, then the net strength is preserved, but the cargo reception accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes an optimal parameter range for net openings that balances structural strength and reception accuracy. The opening size is specifically designed to correspond to both the down-wash pressure and the cargo characteristics, achieving a compromise that satisfies both requirements simultaneously
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 system reduces energy consumption by eliminating the need for landing and take-off, minimizes cargo damage through impact absorption, and enhances efficiency by allowing multiple cargo drops without human intervention, while also reducing infrastructure costs and worker workload.
Implementation Method 1
The net has an elasticity corresponding to a mass of the cargo
Implementation Method 2
The net has openings each having a size corresponding to a pressure of down-wash from the unmanned aircraft
Implementation Method 3
The transport mechanism is configured to transport the cargo received by the net
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo receiving facility includes a net and a transport mechanism. The net is suspended among supports. The net is configured to receive a cargo dropped from an unmanned aircraft in flight. The transport mechanism is configured to transport the cargo received by the net. The net has an elasticity corresponding to a mass of the cargo. The net has openings each having a size corresponding to a pressure of down-wash from the unmanned aircraft.