Drone Cargo Reel Locking With Buffering Against Cable Pull Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drone cargo loading/unloading mechanisms relying on electric reels are prone to malfunction due to power failures or mechanical issues, and using cables in populated areas poses risks of damage from bystanders, especially during landing.
Innovation Solution
A drone cargo loading/unloading device featuring an electric reel with a first driver for rotation, a first locking element using slanted gears for one-directional rotation, a second driver for linear movement, and a buffering element to protect the locking mechanism from damage when disengaging from free-rotation status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an electric reel is used to control cable for loading/unloading cargo, then the drone can perform cargo transportation tasks, but the system consumes large amount of electricity and is vulnerable to power failures and mechanical malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent subsystems: a passive cable release mechanism and an active reel mechanism for cable retrieval. The passive subsystem uses a cable passing through the drone body with a stopper, eliminating the need for power consumption during cargo release while maintaining transportation capability. The active reel subsystem only operates when needed for cable retrieval, reducing overall power consumption and improving reliability by removing the single point of failure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cables are used to load and unload cargo in populated areas, then the drone can operate in metropolitan areas, but bystanders may pull the cable and damage the drone
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-positions a stopper on the cable at a predetermined distance from the drone before cargo release. When the cable is pulled by bystanders, the stopper engages with the reel mechanism first, absorbing the pull force and preventing direct transmission of force to the drone body. This preliminary protective measure allows the drone to operate safely in populated areas while maintaining cargo delivery capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a locking mechanism is added to protect the reel from unauthorized rotation, then the drone is protected from bystander interference, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism utilizes the existing reel structure and cable tension forces. When the cable is pulled, the tension automatically engages the locking teeth with the reel groove, creating a self-activating lock without requiring external power or complex control systems. The mechanism serves itself by using the harmful pull force to activate its own protection, thereby protecting the drone while adding minimal complexity to the existing design.
Data Source
AI summary
A drone loading/unloading device includes an electric reel selectively movable for releasing/winding a cable adapted to be wound around the electric reel. A driver is operably connected to the electric reel to selectively drive the electric reel to reciprocally move from a locked position and an unlocked position and a buffer is mounted between the driver and the electric reel such that buffering effect is provided to the electric reel when moved from an unlocked position to a locked position.