Drone Buffer System for Low-Altitude Crash Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drones face increasing falling accidents due to dead batteries or loss of control, with current parachute systems failing to adequately protect the drone's main body and surrounding objects from impact, especially at low altitudes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a buffer system, such as an air-bag module, into the drone that deploys when the battery charge falls below a threshold or when the drone is close to an object, to reduce impact by forming a protective sphere around the airframe, thereby minimizing damage to the drone and preventing harm to people and property.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a parachute is installed to reduce falling velocity, then the falling speed is reduced, but the main body of the drone still suffers impact damage and people/property at the fall point are not protected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by deploying a buffer (parachute or airbag) before the drone impacts the ground. The buffer is activated in advance during the falling process to provide cushioning protection, rather than relying solely on passive parachute deployment at high altitude. This ensures protection even when falling from low altitudes where parachute deployment would be ineffective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer as an intermediary element between the drone and the ground. This buffer (parachute or airbag) acts as a mediator that absorbs impact energy and reduces the direct force transmitted to the drone main body and surrounding objects, thereby protecting both the drone and people/property at the fall point.
2Reliability
If a parachute opens at 6 meters or more from the ground, then the parachute deployment is safe, but it cannot produce enough effect of reducing falling velocity when the drone is at low altitude near the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional safety system that can operate effectively across different altitude conditions. The buffer mechanism is designed to function both as a parachute for high-altitude deployment (6 meters or more) and as an airbag for low-altitude protection, making the system universally applicable regardless of the drone's falling altitude or battery status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the buffer deployment conditional and adaptive based on real-time flight status. The control unit monitors battery charge level and determines whether to deploy the buffer based on predefined thresholds. This dynamic decision-making ensures the buffer is deployed at the optimal moment for maximum effectiveness, whether from high or low altitude.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the buffer is driven to reduce impact, then the drone and surrounding objects are protected, but the buffer requires additional space and weight in the drone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nested doll by integrating the buffer (airbag) within the drone's structure. The airbag is stored in a compact state inside the drone body and only expands when needed during falling or crash scenarios. This nesting approach minimizes the space and weight occupied by the buffer during normal flight while ensuring protection is available when required.
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 buffer system effectively reduces the impact of a drone's crash, protecting the drone and preventing damage to objects on the ground, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of injury or property damage.
Implementation Method 1
a buffer module that forms a protective sphere around the airframe by expanding an air-bag
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is to prevent an uninhabited airborne vehicle from crashing due to fall impact and from being damaged and to protect an object and a living being at the fall point. The uninhabited airborne vehicle 100 includes a rotary wing 10 and a buffer 111 that reduces impact on the airframe when crashed. The battery charge remaining measurement module 122 and the distance measurement module 123 measure the battery charge remaining and the distance to an object, respectively, and compare the measurement with the respective thresholds. If the measurement is less than the respective thresholds, the buffer module 111 is driven by the drive module 121.