In-Flight Drone Docking Payload for Extended Air Transport Range
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payload designs and air transport systems using unmanned aircraft apparatuses are limited by insufficient non-stop flight range, necessitating frequent landings for maintenance and replenishment.
Innovation Solution
The payload and air transport system incorporate multiple docking mechanisms and propulsion units that allow for interchangeable unmanned aircraft apparatuses, enabling in-flight replacement without landing, enhancing stability and extending flight duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If unmanned aircraft apparatuses are used to transport payload through the air, then transport speed and efficiency are improved, but non-stop flight range is insufficient requiring frequent landings for maintenance and replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the flight operation into segments by using multiple unmanned aircraft apparatuses that can be sequentially docked to and undocked from the payload. Each aircraft operates as an independent segment, allowing one aircraft to complete its mission while another is being prepared or is docked, thereby extending the overall duration of air transport without requiring the payload to land for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preliminary action by having unmanned aircraft apparatuses pre-positioned and ready for docking before the current aircraft completes its flight. The payload is equipped with docking mechanisms that prepare the interface in advance, allowing the next aircraft to be quickly coupled without interrupting the flight operation, thus extending non-stop flight range.
2Duration of action of moving object
If docking mechanisms are added to enable aircraft replacement in flight, then non-stop flight range is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking mechanisms are merged with the existing structural and control systems of the payload and unmanned aircraft. The docking interfaces are integrated into the housing and propulsion unit assemblies, combining multiple functions (structural support, electrical connection, mechanical coupling) into unified components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while enabling aircraft replacement in flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking mechanisms are designed with universal functionality to accommodate different unmanned aircraft apparatuses and propulsion unit configurations. The same docking interface can support various aircraft types and operational modes, reducing the need for specialized complex mechanisms for each configuration and simplifying the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
A payload including a housing provided with one or more toothed guides or with one or more docking mechanisms, each of which is configured to detachably toothedly interact with an unmanned aircraft apparatus being docked so as to enable the movement of said docked unmanned aircraft apparatus with respect to the housing of the payload, wherein the housing of the payload is further configured to detachably toothedly interact with yet another (other) unmanned aircraft apparatus so as to enable the action of said yet another unmanned aircraft apparatus onto said docked unmanned aircraft apparatus for withdrawal of the latter from interaction with the housing of the payload. Furthermore, embodiments of an air transport system include two or more unmanned aircraft apparatuses and one of the payload.