Drone-Mounted Water Sampling Device With Segmented Sealed Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water quality monitoring devices are limited in their ability to conduct measurements and sample collections across multiple water bodies and at varying depths, often requiring costly and complex sealed systems that complicate maintenance and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
An acquisition device with a surface structure, sensors, and a mechanical connection that allows positioning of sensors and sampling systems at multiple depths, combined with a flying drone for transportation and a float device to maintain the structure above the water, enabling measurements and sampling across different water bodies and depths without the need for a sealed box.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealed pressure-resistant box is used to prevent water infiltration during immersion, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a waterproof acquisition unit and a non-waterproof surface structure. Only the essential sensing components are sealed in the IP68-rated acquisition unit, while the mechanical connection components remain exposed. This segmentation allows waterproofing only where necessary, reducing overall complexity compared to sealing the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical connection components (rod, cable, or chain) are extracted from the sealed enclosure and placed in the external environment. This extraction eliminates the need for complex sealed mechanisms for these components, as they are designed to operate in direct contact with water or air, thereby simplifying the overall sealed box structure.
2Ease of operation
If a boat-based acquisition unit is used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability is worsened as it can only sample from the body of water being sailed on
Solution Approach 1:
The acquisition device is designed with universal adaptability to operate from multiple platforms (boats, drones, fixed structures) and sample from multiple water bodies. The mechanical connection system with adjustable length and the portable acquisition unit enable the same device to be deployed across different locations and platforms, making it versatile for monitoring various water bodies without requiring location-specific customization.
3Measurement precision
If measurements are taken at multiple depths using a submerged system, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to required sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is segmented into a sealed acquisition unit containing only the essential sensors (pH, turbidity, salinity, temperature probes) and an unsealed mechanical connection system. This segmentation allows precise multi-depth measurements to be taken from the sealed unit while the connection mechanism remains simple and external, avoiding the complexity of sealing the entire depth-adjustable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical connection (rod, cable, or chain) acts as an intermediary between the sealed acquisition unit and the surface structure. This intermediary allows the acquisition unit to be positioned at various depths while remaining protected, and enables depth adjustment without requiring the entire system to be sealed, thus maintaining measurement precision while reducing complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical connection system with adjustable length is used, then adaptability is improved for positioning at different depths, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection system is designed to be dynamically adjustable in length, allowing the acquisition unit to be positioned at optimal depths for measurements. The system can be extended or retracted based on water depth and measurement requirements, providing adaptability while maintaining relative simplicity through straightforward mechanical extension mechanisms rather than complex automated systems.
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
Enables efficient and precise monitoring of water quality across multiple water bodies and at various depths, simplifying the process and reducing costs by avoiding the use of sealed systems, while allowing for automatic operation and data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a float device capable of maintaining said surface structure in a substantially fixed position relative to the surface of the liquid, at least partly above said surface
Data Source
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AI summary
The acquisition device i.e. drone (16), has a floating device utilized for maintaining a superficial structure in an approximate fixed position with regard to a surface of liquid i.e. water. The floating device is ready to carry out an acquisition phase during which the superficial structure is maintained in a fixed position with regard to the surface of the liquid. A sample of the liquid is taken by a sampling system at a set of acquisition depths.