Drone Propulsion Cage With Independent Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional drone systems face inefficiencies due to propeller orientation being tied to the drone's arms and housing, leading to less responsive and less efficient operation. Additionally, exposed propellers are vulnerable to damage from debris and other obstacles, and traditional drones lack physical connections between units in swarms, limiting scalability and durability.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a drone configuration with a housing that supports a rotation ring assembly, allowing the propulsion system to have an independent orientation. This is achieved through a protective cage that encases the propeller and allows fluid to pass through, providing protection from debris. Furthermore, the drone system includes physically connected unit drones that can scale thrust and durability, enabling improved responsiveness, efficiency, and scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the propeller is exposed to generate thrust, then the propulsion efficiency is improved, but the propeller becomes vulnerable to damage from debris and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cage is divided into multiple segments or bars that create openings between them. These openings allow fluid flow for propulsion while the bars provide protection. The segmented structure balances the competing needs of exposure for efficiency and coverage for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cage provides localized protection where needed (around the propeller blades) while maintaining openness in other areas to allow fluid flow. The density and configuration of the cage bars can be varied in different regions to optimize both protection and propulsion efficiency for specific operating conditions.
2Reliability
If the propeller is enclosed in a protective cage, then the propeller is protected from debris and obstacles, but fluid flow may be restricted reducing propulsion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cage functions as a porous structure with openings between bars or segments. This porous design allows fluid to pass through while providing protection, similar to how porous materials allow fluid flow while maintaining structural integrity and protection.
3Device complexity
If the propeller orientation is tied to the drone arms and housing, then the structure is simplified, but the drone responsiveness and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion system is segmented from the main drone body through the use of the protective cage assembly that can rotate independently. This segmentation allows the propeller to change orientation relative to the drone housing, enabling responsive control while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cage assembly incorporating the propeller is designed to rotate dynamically relative to the drone housing. This dynamic capability allows the propeller orientation to change independently of the drone's overall orientation, improving responsiveness without requiring complete structural redesign.
4Device complexity
If traditional drone swarms operate without physical connections, then the system is simpler to deploy, but scalability and durability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cage assembly serves multiple functions: it protects the propeller from debris, enables independent propeller orientation for responsive control, and potentially provides connection interfaces for swarm operations. This multi-functionality supports both simple deployment and scalable swarm operations with physical connections.
Data Source
AI summary
Drones with propulsions systems supported in a housing are provided where the orientation of the housing is independent from the orientation of the propulsion system. Drones are provided where a propulsion system is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the propulsion system to assume substantially any position with a sphere. Drones are provided where a bladeless inner tube is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the inner tube to assume substantially any position within a sphere. Drone systems are provided with connectable unit drones. An unmanned land vehicle is provided having a wheel assembly that is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the wheel assembly to assume substantially any position with a sphere.