Clutched UAV Wheel-Propeller Drive for Flight and Surface Crawling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UAVs with both flight and perch modes require two motors for each propeller-and-wheel combination, leading to increased energy consumption, weight, and manufacturing complexity, which affects stability and cost.

Innovation Solution

A UAV design utilizing a clutch to selectively engage motors with either propellers or wheels, allowing for a flight-only mode and a crawling-only mode without the need for separate motors, thereby reducing energy consumption and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two motors are used for each propeller-and-wheel combination to enable both flight mode and perch mode, then the UAV can operate in multiple modes, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational modesVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A single motor is designed to perform multiple functions by coupling to different components through a clutch mechanism. The motor can couple to the propeller for flight mode operation and to the wheel through the power transmission subsystem for perch mode operation, eliminating the need for separate motors and reducing overall energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

A clutch mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component that selectively couples the single motor to either the propeller or the power transmission subsystem. This mediator allows the motor to switch between different operational modes without requiring two separate motors, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two motors are used for each propeller-and-wheel combination, then the UAV can operate in multiple modes, but the overall weight of the UAV increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational modesVSAvoidoverall weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of two separate motors into a single motor system with a clutch mechanism. By combining the propeller drive and wheel drive functions into one motor unit that can selectively engage different components, the overall weight of the UAV is reduced while maintaining the capability to operate in multiple modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If two motors are used for each propeller-and-wheel combination, then the UAV can operate in multiple modes, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational modesVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If two motors are used for each propeller-and-wheel combination, then the UAV can operate in multiple modes, but the stability during flight and perch modes decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational modesVSAvoidflight stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11885769B2UAV for continuous ultrasound testing (UT) scans

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a flight-only mode with a motor only rotating propellers and not rotating on-board wheels to configure the UAV to fly away from a surface of a structure, and a crawling-only mode in which the UAV is configured to crawl on the surface due to the motor only rotating the wheels while not rotating the propellers. In the flight-only mode, a clutch disengages a motor from the wheels so that the motor only engages the propellers to fly to lift from the surface. In the crawling-only mode, the clutch disengages the motor from the propellers so that the motor only engages the wheels to move the UAV on the surface.