Enclosed Drone with Elastic Shell for Multi-Mode Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drone technologies lack effective protection for both the drone and bystanders from potential accidents, with risks of damage and injury due to propeller collisions, and do not offer versatile operating modes beyond flight.
Innovation Solution
An enclosed drone apparatus with a protective enclosure that allows the drone to operate in multiple modes, including flight and ground modes, providing safety for the drone and surroundings by enclosing the air vehicle assembly within a versatile enclosure component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the drone operates without an enclosure, then it can fly freely and perform aerial functions, but it risks damaging the environment and injuring bystanders from propeller collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure component is designed to serve multiple functions: it protects bystanders from propeller collisions, protects the drone from environmental damage, and enables both aerial flight and ground-based rolling modes. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing the drone to operate safely in diverse scenarios without requiring separate designs for different operating modes.
2Reliability
If the drone is enclosed within a protective enclosure, then safety is improved by protecting bystanders and the drone, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure component utilizes a flexible shell structure that can deform during impact events, absorbing energy while protecting the drone and bystanders. This flexible shell approach provides effective protection without requiring a complex rigid structure with multiple components, joints, and fastening mechanisms, thereby maintaining relative simplicity while achieving high reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drone is designed for flight mode only, then it can perform aerial functions, but it cannot operate in ground-based rolling mode
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle assembly is configured to perform both aerial flight and ground-based rolling operations using the same core components. The propeller assembly can generate lift for flight or thrust for rolling motion, and the enclosure component facilitates both modes by protecting the vehicle during transitions and ground contact. This universal configuration enables versatile operation without requiring separate vehicle assemblies for different modes.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 1d~1e
Figure 1f~1g
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus (100) that includes an air vehicle assembly (150) that is at least partially enclosed within a protective enclosure assembly (120) The protective enclosure assembly (120) is typically at least partially elastic, to protect the air vehicle assembly (150) from bumps, collisions, and other similar occurrences. The enclosure assembly (120) can also facilitate the ability of the apparatus (100) to operate in a ground movement mode (1 14), such as a rolling mode (1 16), in addition to a flying mode (112).