Drone Antenna Guide Rails for Wind-Stable Vertical Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In drone-type radio relay apparatuses, maintaining the basic attitude of the antenna parallel to the vertical direction during stationary flight is challenging due to bending of the cable's external spring part under strong winds, causing the antenna to tilt.

Innovation Solution

An antenna system with a guide mechanism fixed to the drone body, allowing the antenna to move up and down, utilizing guide rails and rail fixing members to maintain the antenna's vertical orientation, and incorporating antenna fasteners for secure positioning between guide stop positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a spiral spring is externally mounted on a cable connecting the relay station and antenna, then the antenna can be supported and positioned, but the spring exterior part bends under strong wind causing the antenna to tilt and lose its basic attitude

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna support strengthVSAvoidantenna basic attitude stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a static spring mounting to a dynamic guide mechanism that allows the antenna to move vertically while maintaining its basic attitude. The guide mechanism includes guide rails and sliding members that enable controlled movement in the up-down direction while preventing tilting, thus adapting to wind conditions while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a guide mechanism as an intermediary between the antenna and the drone body. This intermediary consists of guide rails fixed to the drone body and sliding members attached to the antenna, which mediate the connection and allow the antenna to maintain its orientation while moving vertically in response to wind conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the antenna is fixed rigidly to the drone body, then the antenna maintains its basic attitude, but the antenna cannot move to avoid damage during landing or under strong wind conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna basic attitude stabilityVSAvoidantenna damage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic mounting system where the antenna can move vertically along guide rails while maintaining its basic attitude. The sliding members enable controlled movement in the up-down direction, allowing the antenna to avoid damage during landing by moving upward and to withstand strong winds by moving laterally, thus improving reliability while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by allowing the antenna to move vertically before damage can occur. During landing, the antenna can move upward along the guide rails to avoid impact damage, and during strong winds, it can move to reduce stress, thus preventing damage before it happens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the antenna is allowed to move freely, then the antenna can avoid damage and adapt to wind conditions, but the antenna loses its basic attitude and tilts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna damage resistanceVSAvoidantenna basic attitude stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a controlled dynamic system where the antenna can move vertically along guide rails while maintaining its basic attitude through sliding members. This controlled movement allows the antenna to adapt to wind conditions and avoid damage while preventing uncontrolled tilting, thus achieving both reliability and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide mechanism acts as an intermediary that constrains the antenna's movement to a specific vertical path while allowing freedom within that constraint. The guide rails and sliding members mediate between the need for movement and the need for attitude stability, enabling controlled adaptation without loss of orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents antenna damage during landing and suppresses inclination due to strong winds, ensuring the antenna remains upright and functional during stationary flight.

Implementation Method 1

the antenna moves downward in the basic attitude of the drone by a weight of the antenna, and the antenna moves upward in the basic attitude of the drone by an upward force acting on the antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWeight: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11996624B2Antenna system and radio relay apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.05.28 SOFTBANK CORPORATION
  • US11996624B2 patent drawing
  • US11996624B2 patent drawing
  • US11996624B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In a drone-type radio relay apparatus, it is provided of an antenna system capable of suppressing an inclination of an antenna due to a strong wind during a stationary flight (hovering). The antenna system is provided with a long-shaped antenna 110 connected to a relay station via a cable, and an antenna guide mechanism that is fixed to a body of a drone and guides the antenna so as to be movable in an up-down direction of a basic attitude of the drone.