Cone-Shaped Drone Charging Pad with QR Code Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drone charging systems are not user-friendly and lack the use of cone-shaped charging pads with QR codes to direct drones for efficient charging and recharging.
Innovation Solution
A charging and recharging drone assembly system featuring a unique charging pad with cones and a movable cover containing QR codes that guide drones to specific landing spots for charging, allowing a main drone to remain airborne indefinitely by receiving fresh battery power from secondary charging drones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional flat charging pad is used, then the charging surface is simple and easy to manufacture, but the drone cannot be precisely guided to a specific landing spot for charging
Solution Approach 1:
The charging pad is segmented into multiple conical protrusions arranged in a specific pattern, each serving as a reference point for drone navigation. These cones divide the charging surface into distinct zones, enabling precise landing positioning through visual recognition of the cone arrangement and QR code location.
Solution Approach 2:
QR codes are introduced as intermediary visual markers placed on or near the conical structures. These QR codes serve as mediators between the physical charging pad structure and the drone's navigation system, providing machine-readable guidance that directs the drone to the precise charging location without requiring complex mechanical positioning systems.
2Reliability
If the charging pad is exposed when not in use, then the charging surface is always accessible, but the charging pad is vulnerable to damage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The charging pad incorporates a movable cover that can dynamically transition between closed and open states. The cover remains closed during non-use periods to protect the charging surface, and automatically or manually opens when a drone approaches or lands, providing timed accessibility that balances protection with operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable cover is positioned in a closed protective state by default before charging operations begin. This preliminary protective action prevents damage and contamination during storage and non-use periods, while the cover's ability to open upon drone approach ensures that protection does not permanently hinder accessibility when needed.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a single large battery is used in the main drone, then the drone can fly longer, but the drone weight increases and requires more power to sustain flight
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into multiple smaller battery units distributed across separate charging drones rather than one large battery in the main drone. Each charging drone carries a compact battery, and collectively they provide equivalent or greater total energy capacity while maintaining the main drone's weight efficiency and flight performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Charging drones serve as intermediary energy carriers between the ground-based power source and the main drone. Instead of the main drone carrying its own large battery, charging drones deliver energy wirelessly during flight, acting as mobile power transfer intermediaries that extend flight duration without increasing the main drone's weight.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the main drone carries its own battery for extended flight, then it can operate independently, but the overall system energy capacity is limited by the drone's weight constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the main drone's limited onboard battery capacity with the combined capacity of multiple charging drones. This combination creates a distributed energy architecture where the main drone maintains operational independence through its own battery while gaining access to extended energy reserves through wireless power transfer from charging drones, effectively multiplying the total available energy without compromising independence.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging and recharging drone assembly system and apparatus are provided. The system has a unique charging pad having a plurality of cones which direct the legs of a charging drone into a specific location on the charging pad for charging/re-charging. A QR code may be located in the middle of a cover of a charging pad so that the charging drone may detect the charging pad from the air and may direct the charging drone to land on a specific spot on the landing pad for charging. The movable cover may cover the charging pad when the charging pad is not in use to protect the charging pad.