Cycloidal Propeller Layout for Amphibious Land-Water Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional amphibious vehicles require separate propulsion systems for land and water operations, leading to increased size, weight, complexity, and limited mobility, as well as inability to operate underwater with six degrees of freedom.
Innovation Solution
An amphibious vehicle equipped with a cycloidal propeller system that can transition between land and water modes, utilizing a single propulsion system with thrust vectoring and blade pitching to control direction and provide thrust in both modes, allowing for operation on land and underwater with enhanced mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate propulsion systems are used for land and water operations, then the vehicle can operate in both media, but the size, weight, and complexity of the vehicle increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the land and water propulsion systems into a single integrated cycloidal propeller system. The cycloidal propeller can operate in two modes: as a wheel on land and as a propeller in water, eliminating the need for separate propulsion systems and reducing overall vehicle complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cycloidal propeller is designed with multi-functionality to serve dual purposes - it functions as a rolling wheel on land surfaces and as a water propeller in aquatic environments. This universal component replaces dedicated land and water propulsion systems, reducing vehicle size and weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate propulsion systems are used for land and water operations, then the vehicle can operate in both media, but the vehicle size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the land and water propulsion systems into a single integrated cycloidal propeller system. The cycloidal propeller can operate in two modes: as a wheel on land and as a propeller in water, eliminating the need for separate propulsion systems and reducing overall vehicle complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cycloidal propeller is designed with multi-functionality to serve dual purposes - it functions as a rolling wheel on land surfaces and as a water propeller in aquatic environments. This universal component replaces dedicated land and water propulsion systems, reducing vehicle size and weight
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional propulsion systems are used, then the vehicle can travel on land and water, but the ability to operate underwater with six degrees of freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cycloidal propeller employs dynamic blade pitching mechanisms that allow real-time adjustment of blade angles during rotation. This dynamic control enables independent manipulation of thrust vectors in multiple directions, providing full six degrees of freedom control for underwater operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting blade pitch angles and rotation speeds to achieve different motion modes. By varying these parameters, the vehicle can control its movement in all three translational and rotational degrees of freedom independently during underwater operations
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple propulsion systems are integrated, then the vehicle can switch between land and water modes, but the mobility and performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cycloidal propeller employs dynamic blade pitching mechanisms that allow real-time adjustment of blade angles during rotation. This dynamic control enables independent manipulation of thrust vectors in multiple directions, providing full six degrees of freedom control for underwater operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting blade pitch angles and rotation speeds to achieve different motion modes. By varying these parameters, the vehicle can control its movement in all three translational and rotational degrees of freedom independently during underwater operations
Data Source
AI summary
An amphibious vehicle for traversing land and bodies of water includes a chassis, and a cycloidal propeller coupled to the chassis and which includes a plurality of cycloidal propeller blades rotatably coupled to the chassis and each extending parallel a rotational axis of the cycloidal propeller, and an extension/retraction system configured to extend the plurality of cycloidal propeller blades away from the chassis and to retract the plurality of cycloidal propeller blades towards the chassis.