Drone Blade Emergency Stop via Conductive Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones face challenges in stopping their blades during emergency situations, which can result in severe injury or damage due to high rotational speed and sharp edges, necessitating an effective emergency stop mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A drone configuration with rotors having electrically conductive elements extending along the blades, forming an electrical circuit that triggers a stopping mechanism when an electrical property change is detected, such as conductivity or capacitance, to halt blade rotation and reduce physical reach during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the blades are made sharp and rigid for efficient flight, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the danger in emergency situations increases due to high rotational speed and sharp edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing the electrically conductive element along the blade from proximal to distal end before any emergency occurs. This ensures that when a collision happens, the electrical circuit is already in place to immediately trigger the stopping mechanism, eliminating the need for post-emergency response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical sensing systems with an electrical circuit-based detection system. The electrically conductive element forms part of an electrical circuit that detects collisions through changes in electrical properties (conductivity, capacitance), which then triggers the stopping mechanism. This substitution enables faster and more reliable detection compared to mechanical systems.
2Productivity
If the blade rotation speed is maintained high for efficient operation, then the propulsion efficiency is improved, but the kinetic energy and potential damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the electrical properties of the circuit formed by the electrically conductive element. When a collision occurs, the change in electrical properties (conductivity or capacitance) provides immediate feedback to the control system, which then activates the stopping mechanism to reduce blade rotation and kinetic energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the electrical circuit (conductivity and capacitance) as detection signals for collisions. The electrically conductive element's electrical properties change when subjected to external forces during a collision, enabling the system to detect the emergency and respond accordingly to reduce kinetic energy.
3Device complexity
If no emergency stop mechanism is installed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the safety in emergency situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the electrically conductive element serve multiple functions: it acts as both a structural component of the blade assembly and as part of the detection circuit. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining safety capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electrical circuit as a mediator between the blade and the control system. The electrically conductive element forms this intermediary circuit that translates physical collision events into electrical signals, enabling safe and reliable emergency detection without requiring complex mechanical sensing systems.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the electrically conductive element is added to detect collisions, then the emergency detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the electrically conductive element directly into the blade structure, combining the structural and detection functions into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate detection devices and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high collision detection capability.
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
The solution effectively stops the blades' rotation and reduces their physical reach, minimizing the risk of injury or damage during emergency landings by containing kinetic energy and momentum, thereby addressing the safety concerns associated with uncontrolled drone operations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the blades comprises an electrically conductive element extending a distance D between its distal end and its proximal end, the electrically conductive element being electrically coupled with means for stopping the blades, thus forming an electrical circuit
Implementation Method 2
when at least one electrical property of the electrical circuit change
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a drone having at least one rotor. The at least one rotor comprises a mast and at least two blades having a proximal end and a distal end. The at least two blades are arranged in connection with the mast by their proximal ends. The at least one of the blades comprises an electrically conductive element extending a distance D between its distal end and its proximal end. The electrically conductive element is electrically coupled with means for stopping the blades, thus forming an electrical circuit. The means for stopping the blades is arranged to be actioned when at least one electrical property of the electrical circuit change.