Rotorcraft with detachable slave units for mission flexibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotorcraft systems face challenges in easily maneuvering multiple rotorcrafts to perform missions simultaneously, as they require complex control and coordination, especially when including both manned and unmanned aircraft.

Innovation Solution

A rotorcraft system comprising a master rotorcraft and detachable slave rotorcrafts, where the master rotorcraft can attach and detach slave rotorcrafts during flight, with wireless control and charging capabilities, allowing for independent operation and enhanced mission flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple rotorcrafts are used to perform missions simultaneously at multiple loci, then mission capability and coverage are improved, but control complexity and coordination difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemission capabilityVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple rotorcrafts into a single integrated system by attaching slave rotorcrafts to the master rotorcraft. This allows the group to be controlled as one unit while still enabling independent operations when separated, thus improving mission capability without proportionally increasing control complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the rotorcraft into a master rotorcraft and multiple slave rotorcrafts that can be attached or detached. This segmentation allows flexible configuration where slave rotorcrafts can operate independently or as part of the group, adapting to different mission requirements without requiring complex coordination for all scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If slave rotorcrafts are attached to master rotorcraft during flight, then ease of operation is improved, but structural complexity and attachment mechanism complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaneuvering easeVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism is designed to be dynamic, allowing slave rotorcrafts to be attached to or detached from the master rotorcraft during flight operations. This dynamic capability enables the system to transition between different operational configurations (group flight or independent flight) without requiring complex permanent structural integrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If wireless communication and control are implemented between rotorcrafts, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption and communication system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol easeVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or wired control systems with wireless communication systems for controlling slave rotorcrafts. This substitution improves ease of operation by eliminating physical connections while managing energy consumption through efficient wireless protocols and only activating communication when needed for coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11701973B2Rotorcraft and method of controlling rotorcraft

Publication Date: 2023.07.18 SUBARU CORP

AI summary

According to one implementation, a rotorcraft includes a first rotorcraft and at least one second rotorcraft. The first rotorcraft has a first main rotor and a first tail rotor. The at least one second rotorcraft has a second main rotor and a second tail rotor. The at least one second rotorcraft are attachable and detachable to and from the first rotorcraft. Further, according to one implementation, a method of controlling the above-mentioned rotorcraft includes: flying the first rotorcraft, to which the at least one second rotorcraft has been attached, to a destination; and separating the at least one second rotorcraft from the first rotorcraft at the destination.