Retrofittable Drone Float with Underwater Camera Scope
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current drones lack the capability to traverse over water and capture underwater images or videos due to the absence of a stable floatation device and adaptable underwater camera attachments, with existing pontoons being unstable and lacking storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
A retrofittable float with an underwater camera attachment for drones, featuring a hollow, stable flotation device with mounting brackets and a submerged camera scope, allowing for balanced drone operation and storage over water, while keeping the drone's hardware dry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If drones are equipped with traditional pontoons (at least two separate floats), then they gain water traversal capability, but stability and balance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pontoon is divided into two separate pontoons, each attached to a different rotor arm of the quadcopter drone. This segmentation allows each pontoon to independently provide buoyancy support, improving water traversal capability while maintaining balance through symmetric distribution of buoyant forces across the drone structure.
2Reliability
If drones are kept suspended over water to prevent water damage, then hardware protection is improved, but underwater photography capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent waterproof dome is introduced as an intermediary structure between the drone's camera and the underwater environment. The dome allows light transmission for underwater photography while maintaining a waterproof barrier that protects the drone's electronic hardware from water contact, enabling both underwater imaging and hardware protection simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing pontoons are used without storage capability, then water traversal is enabled, but payload carrying capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pontoon structure is designed to serve multiple functions: providing buoyancy for water traversal, offering storage capacity through integrated compartments for carrying payloads, and enabling mounting of additional equipment such as cameras or sensors. This multi-functionality allows a single pontoon design to simultaneously address water traversal, storage, and equipment mounting requirements.
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 drones to stabilize and capture underwater images or videos without exposing their hardware to water, providing a stable and balanced pontoon with storage capabilities, enhancing their usability over water bodies.
Implementation Method 1
The preferred flotation device 1 has a generally tubular shape to generate the required buoyant force.
Data Source
AI summary
A retrofittable float with an underwater camera attachment for unmanned aerial vehicles allows an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to traverse over a body of water while recording images and/or video of the underwater environment. The retrofittable float with an underwater camera attachment includes a flotation device, a plurality of mounting brackets, an underwater scope, and at least one underwater illumination light. The flotation device attaches to the UAV via the plurality of mounting brackets. The plurality of mounting brackets is configured to align the center of gravity of the UAV with the center of buoyancy of the flotation device, thereby reducing the risk of capsizing. Once securely mounted, the camera of the UAV is positioned pointing into the underwater scope. The underwater scope allows the camera to record images and/or videos of the underwater environment. Finally, the at least one underwater illumination light is used to increase visibility.