Electropneumatic Pepperball Gun with Modular Drone Mount
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for remotely operated pneumatic guns are expensive and not adaptable for diverse applications, such as sentinel duty, drone, or ROV use, lacking flexibility in firing different types of balls like pepperballs, breakerballs, or paintballs.
Innovation Solution
An electropneumatically operated semi-automatic gun with a mounting assembly that includes a body, barrel, tank, loader, radio receiver, and solenoid valve, allowing remote actuation and attachment to various platforms like drones or shelves, with optional breakerball or paintball capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If purpose-engineered drone or ROV systems with pepperball guns are used, then crowd control capability is achieved, but cost becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal mounting assembly that can attach to multiple platform types (drones, ROVs, tripods, shelves) and accommodate different ball types (pepperballs, breakerballs, paintballs). This multi-functionality allows a single standardized gun design to replace multiple purpose-engineered systems, significantly reducing cost while maintaining crowd control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate modular components: the gun assembly, the mounting bracket, and the platform. This segmentation allows the gun to be a standardized, mass-producible unit that can be attached to various platforms, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to integrated purpose-built systems.
2Reliability
If purpose-engineered systems are used, then specific application performance is optimized, but adaptability to different applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly incorporates adjustable features including rotatable brackets for angular adjustment, extendable struts for positioning, and universal attachment interfaces. These features enable the same gun system to perform effectively across sentinel duty, drone mounting, ROV attachment, and stationary shelf applications, achieving adaptability without sacrificing application performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system includes dynamic adjustment capabilities through rotatable joints and adjustable struts that can be configured for different orientations and positions. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize performance for each specific application while using the same base gun design.
3Ease of operation
If fixed mounting systems are used, then installation simplicity is maintained, but versatility across different platforms is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket features universal attachment mechanisms that work with multiple platform types. The bracket can be mounted to drone frames, ROV bodies, tripods, or wall shelves using standard attachment methods, maintaining installation simplicity while achieving broad platform versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable struts and rotatable joints that allow simple field configuration for different platforms. Users can adjust the mounting angle and position without complex tools or procedures, maintaining ease of installation while adapting to various platform geometries and requirements.
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
Provides a cost-effective, remotely operable pneumatic gun system that can fire different types of balls and be easily mounted on diverse platforms, enhancing versatility and operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid valve. The radio receiver is for receiving a radio signal from a remote transmitter and providing an electrical signal that passes through circuitry to actuate the solenoid valve to permit propellant flow
Implementation Method 2
They are primarily used for entertainment purposes. Slightly modified guns can be used for deterrent or defensive purposes when loaded with pepperballs, which are frangible capsules containing capsaicin, typically powdered, or other irritant, or breakerballs, which can break glass or deter by impact strike.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises an electropneumatically operated semi-automatic gun configured for remote firing of pepperballs, breakerballs, paintballs, etc., and a carrier for the gun comprising a bracket and a pair of struts extending downwardly from the bracket. The body of the gun is attached beneath the bracket and hangs otherwise unsupported in a space defined between the struts. The gun thus mounted can be hung beneath various types of quadracopter drones, or mounted atop shelving or to ROVs.