Decoupling System for Hovering Aerial Vehicle Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hovering aerial vehicles face limitations in range and operational time due to weight constraints, particularly with battery capacity, and existing technologies do not effectively manage the separation and power supply between airborne and auxiliary units while maintaining communication.
Innovation Solution
A hovering aerial vehicle system comprising an airborne unit and an auxiliary unit with a decoupling system that allows for selective detachment and retraction of cables for electrical communication, enabling the auxiliary unit to provide power to the flight system while allowing the airborne unit to hover independently, and includes a tracking system for navigation and propulsion arrangements for terrestrial or marine locomotion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the auxiliary unit is integrated with the airborne unit, then power supply is reliable, but the vehicle cannot hover independently and range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into two independent units: an airborne unit with flight systems and an auxiliary unit with power source. This segmentation allows the airborne unit to hover independently while the auxiliary unit provides extended power supply through selective attachment and detachment, resolving the contradiction between independent operation and extended operational time.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between airborne and auxiliary units is made dynamic through a decoupling system that allows selective attachment and detachment. This dynamic configuration enables the vehicle to switch between integrated mode (for extended power) and separated mode (for independent hovering), resolving the contradiction between reliable power supply and independent operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the airborne unit carries the auxiliary unit during flight, then power capacity is increased, but weight increases reducing range
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy power source is extracted from the airborne unit and placed in a separate auxiliary unit. This extraction reduces the weight of the airborne unit, improving its hovering efficiency and range, while the power capacity is maintained through the auxiliary unit that can be attached when additional power is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A decoupling system with cables acts as an intermediary between the airborne and auxiliary units. This intermediary mechanism allows power transmission from the auxiliary unit to the airborne unit without requiring permanent physical integration, enabling weight reduction while maintaining power capacity availability.
3Weight of moving object
If the vehicle operates in detached configuration, then weight is reduced improving hovering efficiency, but maintaining electrical communication becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible cables are used to maintain electrical connection between the airborne and auxiliary units during detached operation. These flexible conductors allow relative movement between units while maintaining reliable electrical communication, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling system with retractable cables serves as an intermediary that maintains electrical connection despite physical separation. This intermediary mechanism enables the airborne unit to operate with reduced weight while ensuring continuous reliable power and communication links through the flexible cable connection.
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
This configuration extends the operational time of the vehicle by reducing power requirements during hovering and allows for efficient navigation and propulsion, maintaining communication and power supply even in detached configurations, thereby overcoming weight and range limitations.
Implementation Method 1
comprises a flight system configured to facilitate providing aerodynamic lift to facilitate hovering of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
The decoupling system may comprise one or more cables configured to maintain the electrical communication and attached, at opposite ends thereof, to the airborne and auxiliary units
Implementation Method 3
The decoupling system may further comprise a winch configured to selectively release and retract the cables
Implementation Method 4
The auxiliary unit may comprise a floatation arrangement configured to facilitate the auxiliary arrangement floating on a body of water
Data Source
AI summary
A hovering aerial vehicle is provided, comprising an airborne unit and an auxiliary unit. The airborne unit is configured to carry the auxiliary unit during flight and comprises a flight system configured to facilitate providing aerodynamic lift to facilitate hovering of the vehicle. The auxiliary unit comprises an electrical power source in electrical communication with the flight system to provide electrical power for its operation. The hovering aerial vehicle further comprises a decoupling system configured to facilitate selectively switching the vehicle between a detached configuration thereof wherein the airborne and auxiliary units are remote from each other, and an attached configuration thereof wherein the airborne and auxiliary units are secured to one another, and to maintain the electrical communication when the vehicle is in its detached configuration.