Carrier UAV Charging Station for Extending Ornithopter Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flapping-wing ornithopters (FWOs) have limited battery power, making it difficult for them to travel long distances and perform value-added activities efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A mobile UAV charging station that can transport and recharge multiple FWOs, including battery replacement and hydrogen fuel cell recharging, allowing them to extend their range and perform tasks effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If flapping-wing ornithopters use conventional lithium-polymer batteries, then the UAV structure can be kept simple and lightweight, but the battery power is insufficient for long-distance travel and extended operations
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile charging station acts as an intermediary between the ground and flying UAVs. The station includes a large-capacity battery that wirelessly transmits power to UAVs during flight or while docked, extending operational duration without requiring larger onboard batteries that would increase weight and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical battery replacement or physical charging connections with wireless power transmission technology. The mobile charging station uses wireless energy transfer to recharge UAV batteries mid-flight or while docked, eliminating the need for mechanical docking procedures and reducing operational downtime
2Productivity
If a ground-based stationary charging system is used, then multiple UAVs can be charged simultaneously, but the UAVs spend excessive time traveling to and from the charging station, reducing value-added activity time
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station transitions from a static ground-based system to a mobile airborne platform. This dynamic capability allows the charging station to move closer to where UAVs are performing value-added activities, reducing the distance and time UAVs must travel for recharging while maintaining the ability to charge multiple UAVs simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile charging station can position itself in advance near the operational area and maintain a ready supply of charged batteries. When UAVs return from missions, they can be quickly recharged or have batteries swapped without requiring long travel to distant ground stations, keeping the system ready for immediate deployment
3Reliability
If UAVs return to ground stations for battery replacement, then continuous operations can be maintained, but the operational complexity and non-value-added travel time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile charging station is itself a UAV that can carry multiple replacement batteries and charge smaller passenger UAVs. This nested configuration allows the charging station to maintain continuous operation capability by transporting reserved batteries aloft, eliminating the need for complex ground infrastructure while preserving reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile charging station for transporting and recharging multiple UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), typically small UAVs, with the charging station, itself, being in the form of a carrier UAV. By transporting smaller passenger UAVs in, or on, the larger carrier UAV: (i) the smaller UAVs effectively have a longer range because they can be taken part, or even most, of the way to a target destination by riding in, or on, the larger carrier UAV; (ii) the passenger UAVs can have their electrical batteries re-charged; (ii) the passenger UAVs can have their batteries replaced; and/or (iv) the passenger UAVs can have their hydrogen fuel cells recharged with hydrogen (for examples, by replacement of the fuel cell or by pumping hydrogen into the existing fuel cell.