Drone Piggybacking on Host Vehicles for Extended Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drone technologies face limitations such as short battery life, heavy batteries that reduce carrying capacity, and optimization methods that compromise speed, hindering efficient delivery services.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for drone piggybacking on host vehicles, where drones utilize vehicles as transport means, allowing for extended range, reduced battery size, and increased efficiency by calculating routes and enabling drones to recharge while piggybacking, thus enhancing delivery capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If heavier batteries are used to increase traveling range, then the drone's range is improved, but the drone's carrying capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drone's travel function with the host vehicle's transport capability. The drone piggybacks on the host vehicle for portions of the journey, merging two transportation modes to achieve extended range without requiring larger batteries, thus preserving carrying capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The host vehicle acts as an intermediary that carries the drone between locations. Instead of the drone flying the entire distance, the vehicle serves as a mobile platform that transports the drone, enabling the drone to reach destinations beyond its battery-powered range while maintaining small battery size and high carrying capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If battery size is reduced to increase carrying capacity, then the drone's carrying capacity is improved, but the drone's traveling range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the drone's short-range flight capability with the host vehicle's long-range transport capability. The drone uses its small battery for local delivery missions while piggybacking on the vehicle for inter-location travel, achieving both high carrying capacity and extended effective range through combined operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: the drone flies independently when the host vehicle is stationary or unavailable, and piggybacks on the vehicle when the vehicle is moving toward the destination. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between carrying capacity and traveling range based on real-time conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If route optimization is applied to maximize drone range, then the drone's energy efficiency is improved, but the delivery speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the delivery approach based on real-time conditions. When the host vehicle is available and moving toward the destination, the drone piggybacks for energy-efficient long-distance transport. When the vehicle is unavailable or the destination is within flight range, the drone flies directly for faster delivery, optimizing the balance between energy efficiency and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system becomes multi-functional by incorporating both independent drone flight and vehicle-assisted piggybacking. This universal approach allows the system to handle different delivery scenarios optimally: using piggybacking for energy-efficient long-distance deliveries and direct flight for time-critical short-distance deliveries.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing drone piggybacking on vehicles is disclosed. In particular, the system may enable drones or other unmanned mobile connected devices to piggyback onto various types of hosts, such as vehicles, in a symbiotic fashion. Through the symbiotic relationship created between the drones and hosts, the drones may utilize the hosts as a means for transport, such as while delivering a good to an intended destination, and the hosts may receive certain incentives in exchange for transporting the drones. Drones may be paired with hosts based on any number of factors, such as whether the host is traveling on a route that corresponds with reaching the intended destination, whether the host is capable of recharging the drone, and whether the drone has sufficient power to reach the intended destination. By enabling drones to piggyback with hosts, the required traveling range for a drone may be reduced.