Sliding Drone Platform Trailer for Rapid Wildfire Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an efficient trailer system that can quickly deploy drones in response to wildfires, enabling fast fire mitigation and providing video support to firefighters.
Innovation Solution
A drone trailer system comprising a trailer with a rear door hingedly coupled to its distal end, featuring a platform track system that allows a movable platform to slide between the trailer floor and the rear door, enabling fast deployment and return of drones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a traditional fixed platform is used for drone deployment, then the structure is simple and stable, but the deployment time is slow and response to fires is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static fixed platform into a movable platform that can slide along tracks between the trailer floor and rear door. This dynamic configuration allows the platform to move to different positions based on operational needs, enabling rapid drone deployment while maintaining structural stability through the track-guided motion system.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer system is segmented into multiple independent components: the movable platform, the track system (with first and second tracks), the rear door, and the trailer body. This segmentation allows each component to function independently and be optimized separately, with the platform able to move along the tracks without requiring the entire trailer structure to be complex or movable.
2Productivity
If a movable platform with track system is implemented, then deployment efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable platform serves multiple functions: it provides a stable base for drone placement during transport, enables rapid deployment by sliding to the rear door position, and facilitates quick return of drones to the trailer. The track system serves dual purposes as both a guide rail and a support structure, reducing the need for additional complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform's movement along the tracks is designed to be self-contained, utilizing the track geometry and gravity to guide the platform's motion. The system requires minimal external intervention for operation, with the platform able to move between positions using the inherent mechanical advantages of the track configuration, reducing the need for additional motors or complex control systems.
3Ease of operation
If the rear door is hingedly coupled for platform access, then deployment accessibility is improved, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rear door is pre-configured with the second track system attached to its inner surface before operation. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the door opens, the track is already in position to guide the platform's movement, eliminating the need for additional adjustments or complex mechanisms during deployment. The hinge coupling is designed in advance to accommodate both the open position for accessibility and the closed position for structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure concerns a drone trailer system. The drone trailer system includes a rear door hingedly coupled to a distal end of a trailer. A first track system is disposed on the trailer at a floor thereof. A second track system is disposed on the rear door at an inner surface thereof. A movable platform is slidably engaged with the first track system, the second track system, or both. A drone is configured to sit on top of the moveable platform to allow for fast deployment.