Drone Sub-rotor Mechanism for Main Rotor Failure Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drones with multiple rotors are prone to crashes and rotor imbalance when one or more main rotors fail, leading to instability and potential overheating of remaining rotors, which shortens their lifespan.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating sub-rotors that can generate flight driving force instead of failed main rotors, with a failure detection system and controller to position and activate sub-rotors above or below the broken main rotor, maintaining balance and preventing weight imbalance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If multiple main rotors are used to ensure stable flight, then flight stability is improved, but the probability of rotor failure increases and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight stabilityVSAvoid rotor failure probability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drone's rotor system is segmented into main rotors and sub-rotors, where each main rotor is paired with dedicated sub-rotors positioned above and below. This segmentation allows the sub-rotors to independently compensate for main rotor failures without affecting other rotors, thus maintaining flight stability while managing failure risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sub-rotors are pre-positioned above and below each main rotor as a cushioning mechanism against failure. When a main rotor fails, the sub-rotors immediately activate to compensate for the loss of lift, preventing crash and maintaining flight stability without requiring real-time system reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Power

If sub-rotors are positioned asymmetrically to replace broken main rotors, then flight driving force is restored, but weight imbalance occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight driving forceVSAvoidweight balance

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs asymmetric positioning of sub-rotors relative to the drone's centerline, with sub-rotors positioned above and below each main rotor at offset locations. This asymmetric arrangement allows flexible compensation for main rotor failures while the control system dynamically adjusts other rotor speeds to maintain overall weight balance and prevent tilting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

When a main rotor fails, the control system changes the operational parameters of remaining rotors and sub-rotors, adjusting their rotation speeds and positions to compensate for the imbalance. This dynamic parameter adjustment restores the flight driving force while maintaining weight balance through coordinated control of multiple rotors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If remaining rotors generate additional driving force to compensate for broken rotors, then flight balance is maintained, but rotors overheat and deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight balanceVSAvoid rotor temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Sub-rotors are pre-positioned and pre-configured to immediately take over the function of failed main rotors. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for remaining main rotors to generate excessive additional force, as the sub-rotors are specifically designed and positioned to provide the necessary compensation, thereby preventing overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Sub-rotors act as intermediary components between the failed main rotor and the drone's flight system. They mediate the loss of lift by providing localized compensation close to the failure point, reducing the burden on other main rotors and preventing them from operating at excessive power levels that would cause overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11167843B1Drone with sub-rotors

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 KIM IN HEON

AI summary

The present invention provides a drone comprising: a drone body; main rotors generating a driving force; sub-rotors generating a driving force instead of the main rotor above and below the main rotor, respectively; connection frames connecting the sub-rotors to the drone body above and below the main rotor, respectively; a detector detecting failure of the main rotors; and a controller controlling the sub-rotors to generate a driving force when detecting failure of the main rotor, wherein the connection frame is rotatably connected to the drone body, rotates, and moves the sub-rotor; wherein each connection frame comprises a rotation frame protruded upward or downward from the drone body and rotatably connected to the drone body; a horizontal frame horizontally connecting the sub-rotor to the rotation frame, and a balance weight protruded from the rotation frame in an opposite direction to the horizontal frame.