Distributed Battery Arms for Compact Drone Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drones, particularly quadcopters, are bulky and difficult to transport due to their size, and they have limited flight duration autonomy.
Innovation Solution
The drone design incorporates electrical energy storage devices into each arm between its ends, optimizing energy distribution, reducing the central body size, and allowing for parallel electrical connection of batteries to reduce peak current intensity, thereby increasing flight autonomy and facilitating compact transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the battery pack is integrated into the central body, then the electrical energy storage is centralized, but the drone becomes bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrical energy storage system into multiple separate battery packs, each integrated into individual arms rather than consolidating all batteries in the central body. This segmentation allows the drone to maintain adequate energy storage while reducing the volume of the central body, thereby improving transportability without sacrificing flight autonomy
2Duration of action of moving object
If the battery pack size is increased to extend flight time, then flight autonomy is improved, but the drone becomes more bulky and harder to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by distributing multiple battery packs across different arms, allowing the total energy storage capacity to be increased for extended flight time while keeping each individual battery pack compact. This distributed arrangement avoids concentrating all battery volume in one location, thereby maintaining transportability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a centralized vertical stacking arrangement to a distributed spatial arrangement across multiple arms, utilizing the dimensional space available in the arm structures. This allows energy storage capacity to be increased without proportionally increasing the central body volume, thus extending flight time while preserving compact transport form
3Device complexity
If a single central battery pack is used, then the electrical architecture is simple, but the current drawn from the battery is high during peak demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical power supply system into multiple independent battery packs distributed across arms, each capable of supplying power to nearby motors. This segmentation reduces the current burden on any single battery pack during peak power demands, as the total power requirement is distributed across multiple sources, thereby protecting battery life and performance
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 enhances flight autonomy, reduces the central body size for improved aerodynamics, and simplifies transport by allowing the drone to be disassembled into compact components, with each arm serving as a self-contained energy source and cooling unit.
Implementation Method 1
For each arm, the electrical energy storage device extends over a length LB from the propeller axis, and more than 40% of this length LB is cooled by the airflow directly from the propeller at the arm's end
Data Source
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AI summary
Drone (10) comprising a central body (1) and a plurality of arms, preferably at least three arms (B1, B2, B3, B4), each arm comprising a first end (21) mounted on the central body, each arm comprising, in the vicinity of a second end (22), at least one electric motor (M1, M2, M3, M4) and at least one propeller (H1, H2, H3, H4) coupled to said electric motor, each arm accommodating at least one electric battery (41, 42, 43, 44).