Drone Payload Bay Conveyor Floor for Secure Article Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery drones use overhead grippers that leave payloads exposed, risking loss if the grip is insecure, necessitating a more secure, efficient, and effective method for loading and unloading articles.
Innovation Solution
A drone equipped with a dynamic support surface, such as a conveyor belt, that forms the floor of an article containment area, allowing for secure loading and unloading, and includes features like powered or passive conveyor belts, rollers, and adjustable orientations to facilitate efficient article transfer and discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If overhead grippers are used to secure payload, then the drone structure is simple, but the payload is exposed and may fall if grip is not secure
Solution Approach 1:
The loading mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a containment area with sidewalls for security, a dynamic support surface (conveyor belt) for loading/unloading, and an overhead gripper for aerial manipulation. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one function, improving overall reliability while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The overhead gripper is positioned above the containment area and can manipulate articles into the containment space. The containment area itself is nested within the drone structure, with the dynamic support surface forming the floor. This nested arrangement allows the gripper to secure payloads before they enter the protected containment area, combining external manipulation with internal security
2Productivity
If overhead grippers are used to secure payload, then the drone structure is simple, but the loading and unloading process is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is made dynamic through the conveyor belt mechanism, which can move to facilitate loading and unloading operations. This dynamic element allows the containment area to adapt its configuration during different operational phases (loading, transport, unloading), improving productivity without requiring complete structural redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The containment area with its dynamic support surface serves multiple functions: it secures the payload during flight, facilitates efficient loading from the overhead gripper, enables controlled unloading at destination, and can be configured for different article types. This multi-functionality improves overall system productivity while consolidating what could be separate systems into one integrated structure
3Reliability
If a dynamic support surface is implemented for secure loading and unloading, then payload security is improved, but the drone weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt and containment area walls are implemented as thin, flexible structures that provide the necessary containment and dynamic movement functions while minimizing material usage and overall weight. This allows the system to achieve improved payload security without proportionally increasing drone weight
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A drone comprises at least one propeller for generating lift and an article containment area for containing an article to be carried by the drone. The floor of the article containment area comprises a dynamic support surface for supporting the article and allowing the article to move into, out of and through the article containment area. The dynamic support surface may be a conveyor belt forming the floor of the article containment area.