Drone Landing Gear Shock Absorption via Rocker Arm Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorption systems for drones, such as parachutes and airbags, are heavy, occupy valuable cargo space, and require complex integration with avionics and human intervention for resetting, leading to increased costs and operational delays after hard landings.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, purely mechanical shock absorption system that attaches to the drone's landing gear, using damper legs, strut brackets, rocker arms, and energy storage devices like coil springs or gas-filled cylinders to absorb landing impacts without relying on electronic control systems, allowing for self-resetting and immediate reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a parachute or airbag system is used to cushion hard landings, then damage to drone and cargo is prevented, but the system weight increases and cargo space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorption function is divided into multiple independent spring-loaded cushioning units distributed at different locations on the drone frame, rather than using a single centralized parachute or airbag system. Each unit operates independently to absorb impact forces from different directions.
Solution Approach 2:
Spring-loaded cushioning elements are pre-installed on the drone frame at strategic locations before flight. These cushions are already in place and ready to absorb impact forces immediately upon hard landing, eliminating the need for deployment mechanisms required by parachutes or airbags.
2Reliability
If a parachute or airbag system is integrated into drone avionics, then shock absorption is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded cushioning system is purely mechanical and self-activating upon impact, requiring no electronic sensors, control systems, or human intervention. The springs automatically compress to absorb shock and then naturally rebound, providing self-service shock absorption without adding avionics complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic-controlled systems (parachute deployment mechanisms, airbag inflation systems) with simple passive mechanical spring elements that provide shock absorption through pure mechanical means, eliminating the need for electronic integration.
3Reliability
If parachute or airbag deployment systems are used, then hard landing protection is provided, but operational time is lost due to resetting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded cushions automatically reset themselves after each impact through elastic rebound, enabling the drone to be immediately ready for the next mission without requiring human operators to repack parachutes or replace airbags.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning system recovers its energy and returns to its original state after absorbing impact, effectively recovering its protective capability without being discarded or requiring replacement, thus maintaining continuous operational readiness.
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 system effectively minimizes damage to drones and cargo from hard landings, maintains lift capacity and cargo space, and enables immediate resumption of missions without human intervention, reducing operational delays and costs.
Implementation Method 1
A first damper has a first damper end attached to the body of the strut and a second damper end that is pivotally attached to the rocker arm. The damper may be either a coil spring, or a gas-filled cylinder or other similar device that provides similar mechanical energy storage upon compression.
Implementation Method 2
provides similar mechanical energy storage upon compression
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorbing system for use when landing an unmanned aerial vehicle uses a rocker arm pivotally attached to each landing leg of the vehicle. A strut bracket is attached to each landing leg below the rocker arm. A damper leg is pivotally attached to the rocker arm on one side of the landing leg attachment and the upper end of a damper-loaded strut is pivotally attached to the rocker arm on an opposing side of the landing leg attachment. The base of the strut is fixedly attached to the strut bracket. As the vehicle, it places a downward force on each landing leg which cause the bracket to slide downward along the damper leg, causing the damper leg to pivot its end of the rocker arm upwardly and thus the strut end downwardly causing the strut to compress against the bias of the damper and thereby dampen the landing. Damper leg pairs can be joined by a skid.