Aerial Drone Jump-Start System With Conductive End Effectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with dead batteries often lack access to alternate electricity sources for jump-starts, as traditional jump-starts are not always available or feasible.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle jump start system comprising an aerial drone equipped with electrically conductive end effectors and a drone computer that communicates with a vehicle and a remote server to navigate, connect, and provide electricity to the vehicle's battery, enabling a jump-start even in remote locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional jump-start system is used, then the vehicle can receive power from another vehicle's battery, but the system is not available in remote locations where no other vehicle is present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portable power source device that acts as an intermediary between the vehicle battery and the user. This device receives power wirelessly (via solar panels, wireless charging, or other means) and stores it in an internal battery, then uses this stored power to jump-start the vehicle. This intermediary solution eliminates the need for another vehicle to be present while keeping the system relatively simple and portable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a portable power source is introduced to enable jump-starts in remote locations, then availability improves, but the device becomes more complex and harder to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a collapsible or foldable design for the portable power source device. The housing can be collapsed to a compact size for easy storage and transport, then expanded to full size when needed for operation. This dynamic structure allows the device to transition between a compact portable form and a functional operational form, resolving the contradiction between portability and functionality.
3Ease of operation
If wireless power transmission is used to charge the portable power source, then the device remains portable without cables, but the charging efficiency and reliability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the portable power source to support multiple charging methods: wireless charging (via electromagnetic induction or resonance), solar charging (via integrated photovoltaic panels), and traditional cable-based charging. This multi-functional charging capability ensures that the device can be recharged reliably regardless of the environment or available resources, maintaining portability while improving charging reliability through redundancy.
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 vehicles to receive a jump-start regardless of location, ensuring engine functionality by providing an alternate power source through the drone's electrically conductive end effectors, overcoming the limitations of unavailable traditional jump-starts.
Implementation Method 1
the solar array positioned within the housing and configured to convert solar energy to electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
a battery pack positioned within the housing and configured to store electrical energy
Implementation Method 3
an aerial drone equipped with electrically conductive end effectors... provide electricity to the vehicle's battery
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an aerial drone. The aerial drone includes first and second electrically conductive end effectors. The first and second electrically conductive end effectors are electrically connected to a power source.