Docking Electronic Device for Drone Function Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Miniaturized drones face limitations in processing power due to battery constraints, leading to potential malfunctions or flight failures when performing complex computations, and high-performance processors and sensors are expensive, making it challenging to provide all desired functions effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for docking high-performance electronic devices with low-performance ones, allowing the high-performance device to extend the capabilities of the low-performance device by providing additional processing power and sensor functions, thereby minimizing redundant resources and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If miniaturized drones use high-performance processors and various sensors to provide all desired functions, then the functionality and performance are improved, but the cost increases and battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides computational tasks between the drone's local processor and a remote server. The drone handles only essential real-time control functions, while complex computations such as image processing, path planning, and data analysis are segmented and executed remotely, reducing the drone's onboard processing requirements and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A communication interface acts as an intermediary between the drone and the remote server. This intermediary enables the drone to access high-performance computing resources remotely without requiring those resources to be physically present on the drone, thus maintaining functionality while reducing onboard hardware and energy requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If miniaturized drones use high-performance processors and various sensors to provide all desired functions, then the functionality is improved, but the device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts high-performance computing resources from the drone system and places them on a remote server. This extraction allows the drone to maintain full functionality by accessing these resources remotely, while the drone itself uses only basic, low-cost processors and sensors, significantly reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The remote server provides universal computing resources that can serve multiple drones simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single high-performance server to support many drones, reducing the need for each individual drone to have expensive onboard processing capabilities while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If miniaturized drones perform complex computations locally, then the functionality is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential malfunctions or flight failures

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidflight reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments critical flight control functions from complex computational tasks. Essential real-time control functions remain local for immediate response, while non-critical complex computations are performed remotely, reducing the risk of flight failures from local processing errors while maintaining overall functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If miniaturized drones use basic processors and sensors, then the cost is reduced, but the ability to provide all desired functions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidfunctionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A communication interface serves as an intermediary that connects the low-cost drone to remote high-performance computing resources. This intermediary enables the drone to access advanced functionalities such as complex image processing, autonomous navigation, and data analysis without requiring expensive onboard hardware, thus maintaining both low cost and full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10268239B2First electronic device, a second electronic device, a third electronic device and method for providing extension of function by docking

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A first electronic device comprises a body, a docking portion that is provided on the body and is detachably coupled to the second electronic device, a terminal that comes into contact according to the coupling of the second electronic device, and a controller that identifies the coupling to the second electronic device, determines the basic performance of the second electronic device, determines the extended performance that can be provided by the first electronic device based on the basic performance of the second electronic device, and controls the second electronic device according to the basic performance of the second electronic device and the extended performance.