Drone Dispensing Device Turbulence Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices are limited in their ability to accurately and efficiently dispense a controlled volume of material from a drone to the ground, particularly in overcoming turbulence caused by the drone's rotors and ensuring precise control over the dispensing process.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing device connected to a drone, featuring an outer and inner housing with a mixing mechanism that combines a material with air to create an air/material mixture, accelerated by a fan or air accelerator, allowing for controlled dispensing through a venturi flow or apertures, with a closure member and driver system for precise control, and a connector to secure the device to the drone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If material is dispensed from a drone, then the drone can deliver material to the ground, but the drone's rotor turbulence interferes with the material flow and dispensing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dispensing function from the drone body by using a separate dispensing device mounted on the drone. The device includes an inner housing with an inner cavity for material storage and an outer housing with an outer cavity for air acceleration, separating the material handling function from the drone's rotor system to minimize turbulence interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium to carry the material from the inner cavity to the outer cavity. The air accelerator creates a controlled air flow that transports material particles, allowing precise control over material delivery despite the presence of rotor turbulence.
2Ease of operation
If a closure member is used to control material flow, then dispensing control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable closure member that can dynamically open and close the aperture between the inner and outer cavities. This dynamic element allows the system to transition between sealed and open states, enabling controlled material dispensing while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure member is designed to be actuated by the air flow itself or by a simple mechanical linkage, allowing the system to control its own opening and closing without requiring complex external control mechanisms. The air pressure differential can automatically open the closure member when material dispensing is required.
3Productivity
If air is accelerated to transport material, then material distribution efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by using compressed air or air pressure differentials to transport material particles from the inner cavity through the aperture to the outer cavity. The air accelerator creates a controlled pneumatic flow that efficiently moves material without requiring mechanical conveyance systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls material transport by adjusting air flow parameters such as pressure, flow rate, and velocity. By varying these pneumatic parameters, the system can optimize material distribution efficiency while managing energy consumption, allowing for controlled dispensing at different rates and distances.
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
Enables accurate and efficient dispensing of materials, such as powders, over a controlled distance beyond the drone's turbulence zone, with adjustable flow rates and mix ratios, ensuring effective material distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a fan adjacent the exhaust opening to accelerate the air and material mixture out of the dispensing device
Implementation Method 2
accelerate the air and material mixture out of the dispensing device
Implementation Method 3
a closure member adjacent the aperture to open and close the aperture as desired to dispense material from the outer cavity into the inner cavity
Implementation Method 4
allow material in the outer cavity to be transferred to the inner cavity and mixed with air to create an air and material mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing device for connection to a drone is provided. The dispensing device has an outer housing and an inner housing interior of the outer housing. The inner housing has an inner cavity having an entrance opening and an opposing exhaust opening. The area between the outer housing and the inner housing defines an outer cavity adapted to hold a material. The dispensing device also has a fluid access opening to provide fluid access between outer cavity and the inner cavity to allow material in the outer cavity to be transferred to the inner cavity and mixed with air to create an air and material mixture. An air accelerator is provided adjacent the inner cavity to accelerate the air and material mixture out of the dispensing device.