Aerial Payload Descent Arrest Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial payload vehicle descent arrest systems rely on pre-determined distance approximations and static sensors, leading to inaccuracies in triggering the descent arrest system, resulting in potential payload damage due to early or late activation, which compromises delivery accuracy and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A descent state detection system utilizing multiple sensors to compute a precise sensed distance to the target destination and generate a trigger signal for the descent arrest device, allowing dynamic adjustment of the arrest deployment height based on real-time sensor data, including altitude, terminal velocity, and terrain pose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pre-determined distance approximations and static sensors are used to trigger descent arrest, then the system structure is simple, but the triggering accuracy deteriorates leading to potential payload damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (barometric altimeter, GPS receiver, radar altimeter, and inertial measurement unit) into an integrated descent state detection system. This merging of sensors allows the system to cross-validate measurements and compute more accurate distance-to-ground values, resolving the contradiction by achieving high measurement precision through sensor fusion rather than relying on a single static sensor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flight controller as an intermediary that processes sensor data and dynamically computes optimal descent arrest trigger heights. This intermediary layer enables real-time adjustment of trigger signals based on actual flight conditions, resolving the contradiction by providing accurate triggering without requiring overly complex direct sensor-to-actuator connections
2Reliability
If conservatively high trigger values are used to account for sensor inaccuracies, then the reliability of payload delivery is improved, but the manufacturing precision and delivery accuracy deteriorate due to early triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static, pre-determined trigger heights to dynamic, real-time computation of optimal trigger heights. The flight controller continuously adjusts the descent arrest trigger signal based on current flight conditions, sensor data, and computed distance-to-ground. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through real-time adaptation while achieving precision by triggering at the exact optimal moment rather than using conservative early triggers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where sensor data is continuously monitored, distance-to-ground is dynamically computed, and trigger signals are adjusted in real-time based on actual flight conditions. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable delivery through continuous monitoring while achieving precise delivery timing through real-time adjustments rather than conservative pre-set values
3Measurement precision
If single sensor systems are used for descent detection, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to dynamically sense and adjust deployment height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor types (barometric altimeter, GPS receiver, radar altimeter, and inertial measurement unit) into an integrated descent state detection system. This sensor fusion approach resolves the contradiction by achieving high measurement precision through cross-validation and complementary measurements while managing complexity through systematic integration and centralized processing by the flight controller
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial payload vehicle descent arrest system, method operating and device, including an aerial payload vehicle configured to descend along a predetermined flightpath toward a target destination, a descent state detection system configured to receive sensor output information from a plurality of sensors, to compute a sensed distance to the target destination based on sensor output information from at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors, and to generate a descent arrest device trigger signal based on a sensed altitude, and a descent arrest device configured to receive the descent arrest device trigger signal from the descent state detection system and to decelerate the aerial payload vehicle before a payload from the aerial payload vehicle is delivered to the target destination.