Protective Drone Housing for Low-Power Obstacle-Free Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drone delivery systems fail to minimize power consumption, user-specific errors, and obstacles, leading to reduced mobility and data acquisition within an area of interest, and often result in drone damage during introduction.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system comprising a housing with a lock mechanism and biasing mechanism that allows a drone to be introduced to an area of interest without damage, separating from the housing and enabling operation within the area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the drone travels the full distance from the user to the area of interest, then the drone can reach the target location, but the power supply is depleted reducing mobility time and data acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the delivery journey into two segments: a protected phase where the drone is enclosed in the housing during transport to the area of interest, and an operational phase where the drone is deployed. This segmentation allows the drone to conserve power during the transport phase while maintaining full power availability for the operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary carrier that transports the drone to the area of interest without requiring the drone to operate during transit. The housing protects the drone and eliminates the need for the drone to consume power during the delivery journey, thereby conserving its power supply for actual operational use.
2Reliability
If the user directly operates the drone to overcome obstacles, then the drone can navigate complex terrain, but user errors and skill limitations reduce success rate
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for user operation during the critical transport phase by using an automated housing delivery mechanism. The drone autonomously remains enclosed and protected during delivery, removing human error and skill limitations from the equation. The drone only requires minimal activation once deployed at the destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing provides beforehand protection for the drone during transport, cushioning it from environmental hazards, physical damage, and operational errors. This pre-protective measure ensures the drone arrives at the area of interest in optimal condition, thereby increasing the reliability of successful delivery.
3Reliability
If obstacles are present between the user and area of interest, then the delivery path is blocked, but the drone cannot be successfully introduced without damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the drone from the user and delivery path by using an enclosed housing as an intermediate container. This segmentation allows the housing to navigate or be delivered through obstacles while the drone remains protected inside, isolated from direct exposure to harmful environmental factors and physical obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves as a protective shell that encloses the drone, providing a barrier against obstacles and environmental hazards. This shell structure allows the system to traverse difficult terrain and obstacles while maintaining the integrity and protection of the vulnerable drone components inside.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for introducing a drone to an area of interest are presented. The delivery system may include a housing, a drone, either a timer or a receiver, a lock mechanism, and a biasing mechanism. The housing further includes a pair of parts with or without subparts. At least one sensor is attached to the drone. The timer or the receiver is secured to the housing and communicable with the lock mechanism to control function thereof. The lock mechanism is adapted to releasably secure the parts or the subparts. The drone is enclosed within the housing in a CLOSED configuration when the lock mechanism is locked. The biasing mechanism separates the parts or the subparts to an OPEN configuration when the lock mechanism is unlocked. The drone is introducible to the area of interest in the CLOSED configuration and separable from the housing in the OPEN configuration.