Drone Docking Structure Using Magnetic Field and Sealing Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drone technology is costly when applied to vehicles and lacks the ability to dock with a sunroof, hindering efficient and safe delivery operations.
Innovation Solution
A drone docking structure for autonomous vehicles, featuring a coil housing with a spiral coil generating a magnetic field for docking, a motor-actuated docking cover, and a telematics controller for coordinated drone operations, allowing secure docking and sealing of drones to the vehicle's sunroof.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional drone technology is applied to a vehicle, then drone functionality is added, but costs increase and docking capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sunroof mechanism with the drone docking structure into a single integrated system. The sunroof housing serves as the drone housing, the sunroof motor actsuates the docking cover, and the sunroof controller manages drone operations. This merging eliminates the need for separate drone equipment, reducing costs while maintaining full docking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sunroof system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can open and close the sunroof, seal the opening, and dock the drone. By making the docking structure multi-functional and compatible with the existing sunroof system, the patent avoids increasing device complexity while adding drone adaptability.
2Reliability
If a docking structure is added to enable drone docking, then delivery safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking structure merges with the sunroof mechanism, using the same housing, motor, and controller. This integration ensures reliable drone docking and sealing without adding complex separate systems, as the existing sunroof components are repurposed for docking functions.
3Productivity
If rapid delivery is achieved through automated drone docking, then productivity increases, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system merges the sunroof controller with drone docking operations. The existing sunroof controller, which manages sunroof opening and closing, is also used to control drone docking, sealing, and release. This integration enables rapid automated delivery without requiring a separate complex control system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the sunroof is opened for drone docking, then delivery functionality is enabled, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking cover seals the sunroof opening before the drone is fully docked and maintains sealing during the delivery process. This preliminary and continuous sealing action prevents contamination from entering the vehicle interior, enabling drone docking functionality while mitigating contamination risk.
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 rapid, safe, and contamination-resistant parcel delivery by magnetically fixing drones to the vehicle's sunroof, reducing operational costs and enhancing delivery efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a coil arranged on an inner wall of the coil housing in a spiral shape so as to generate a magnetic field when power is applied to the coil
Implementation Method 2
a mounting core magnetized in the form of an electromagnet due to the magnetic field of the coil
Implementation Method 3
The mounting core may have a space therein so as to fix the legs of the drone when the mounting core is magnetized due to the magnetic field of the coil
Data Source
AI summary
A drone docking structure of an autonomous vehicle can include: a coil housing having a space for docking a drone to the vehicle; a docking cover configured to open or close a top portion of the coil housing according to whether the drone is docked; and a motor housing installed on a side surface of the coil housing and including a motor configured to actuate the docking cover.