Drone Load Attachment Member for Posture-Stable Suspended Loads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerial vehicles struggle to efficiently suspend a load from an aerial vehicle while also stabilizing the posture of the load.

Innovation Solution

The aerial vehicle is configured to have a body portion with a plurality of rotors and a load attachment member configured to be connected to the body portion, support the load, and adjust the posture of the load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the load is suspended from the aerial vehicle, then the process of attaching and detaching the load becomes efficient, but the load and wires swing like a pendulum due to downwash, decreasing stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of attaching and detaching loadVSAvoidstability of aerial vehicle
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A stabilizing member is introduced as an intermediary component between the load and the aerial vehicle. This stabilizing member includes a load receiving portion that supports the load and a posture adjusting portion that actively adjusts the load's posture to counteract swinging caused by downwash, thereby maintaining system stability while keeping the load suspended

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing member incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through the posture adjusting portion, which can actively change the orientation and position of the load receiving portion in response to downwash forces. This dynamic adjustment prevents the load from swinging like a pendulum while maintaining efficient suspension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the load is fixed to the aerial vehicle, then the stability and control of the aerial vehicle is maintained, but the process of attaching and detaching the load becomes complicated and requires landing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of aerial vehicleVSAvoidefficiency of attaching and detaching load
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The load support system is segmented into three functional components: the load itself, the stabilizing member with distinct load receiving portion and posture adjusting portion, and the aerial vehicle. This segmentation allows the load to be independently attached and detached from the stabilizing member while the stabilizing member remains connected to the aerial vehicle, enabling efficient load changes without landing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing member serves as an intermediary that decouples the load attachment/detachment operation from the aerial vehicle connection. The load can be quickly attached or detached from the stabilizing member's load receiving portion while the stabilizing member maintains its connection to the aerial vehicle, thus simplifying the process and improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The load is stabilized by adjusting the posture of the load using the load attachment member, allowing efficient attachment and detachment without landing the vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

the load attachment member adjusts the posture of the load by adjusting a length of at least one of the support members from the body portion to the load attachment member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

airflow (downwash) generated by the rotors flows along the inclined portion to the region outward of the load. This suppresses the influence of downwash on the load, and suppresses swinging of the load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAirflow: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the aerial vehicle further includes a posture sensor configured to detect the posture of the load, and the load attachment member adjusts the posture of the load based on a detection result of the posture sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPosition Detection:

Data Source

PatentEP4644267A1Flying object
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4644267A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4644267A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4644267A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This aerial vehicle flies while carrying a load 8. The aerial vehicle includes a body portion 2 having a plurality of rotors 3, and a load attachment member 40 that is connected to the body portion 2, supports the load 8, and adjusts the posture of the load 8.