Drone Gripping Mechanism With Adjustable Arms for Wind Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportation article conveyance technologies, such as those using drones, face challenges in stably gripping transportation articles of various sizes and shapes, particularly rectangular parallelepipeds, and suffer from instability due to wind or other external factors when using suspended wires.
Innovation Solution
A gripping mechanism with rotatable arms and a width adjusting mechanism, supported by a rotating body on a drone, allows for adjustable arm positions to securely grip and convey articles of different sizes, featuring a ratchet mechanism for stability and a design that maintains the center of gravity aligned with the drone's rotation axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a magnetic gripping mechanism is used to attract transportation articles, then gripping force is provided, but the mechanism can only attract transportation articles of sizes that the electromagnetic force of a magnet can cover, making it unsuitable for various sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping mechanism employs rotatable arms that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation. The arms rotate about a vertical axis and can be positioned at different angles to accommodate transportation articles of various sizes and shapes, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed-structure grippers
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping mechanism is divided into multiple independent arms that can be controlled separately. Each arm can be independently positioned and adjusted, allowing the system to adapt to different article sizes by configuring each arm's position optimally
2Reliability
If two inclined bottom plates are used to support a transportation article, then the article can be dropped vertically downward, but the mechanism is not suitable for stably conveying rectangular parallelepiped-shaped transportation articles
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are designed to be rotatable and adjustable during the conveyance process, allowing them to adapt to rectangular parallelepiped-shaped articles by positioning themselves to provide stable support and prevent rolling, unlike fixed inclined plates
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable arms can serve multiple functions: supporting articles during conveyance, preventing rolling through proper positioning, and facilitating controlled dropping. This multi-functionality makes the mechanism suitable for various article shapes including rectangular parallelepipeds
3Ease of operation
If a long flexible wire is used to suspend and convey a transportation article, then the article can be conveyed, but the stability of the transportation article is significantly impaired when the article is subjected to wind or the like
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible wire suspension system is replaced with a rigid arm-based mechanical gripping system. The arms provide structured support and control that resists wind forces, eliminating the instability inherent in flexible wire suspension while maintaining ease of operation through rotational adjustment
4Adaptability or versatility
If the first arm and second arm move toward the rotation axis when the rotating body rotates in a predetermined direction, then the width can be adjusted, but the mechanism requires engagement with racks and pinions increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Racks and pinions are introduced as intermediary mechanical elements that translate rotational motion into the desired arm movement. The racks engage with the rotating body's pinion gears to mediate the width adjustment, providing a reliable mechanical linkage that converts simple rotation into complex arm positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A gripping mechanism is attached to a mobile body to grip and convey a transportation article. The gripping mechanism includes a pinion provided to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and a first arm and a second arm disposed with the rotation axis being the center to be separated from the rotation axis by the same distance to grip the transportation article. When the pinion rotates in a predetermined direction, the first arm and the second arm move toward the rotation axis.