Fixed Camera UAV With Adjustable Thrust For 4Pi Observation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial photography equipment mounted on UAVs is limited in its ability to photograph targets higher than the aircraft and has a restricted view angle due to the configuration of the imaging unit, which can result in the aircraft entering the camera's view and limiting the photography scope.
Innovation Solution
An observation device equipped with an aircraft and a fixed observation unit that includes thrusters with adjustable propulsion force direction, an inertial measurement unit, and actuators, allowing the aircraft to hover and maintain an inclined orientation, enabling observation in any arbitrary direction without a movable unit for adjusting the observation target direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the imaging unit is suspended from the aircraft and its direction is changed to photograph targets, then the aircraft can photograph targets in different directions, but the aircraft may enter the view angle of the camera and the photography scope may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the direction of the imaging unit while the aircraft maintains ground orientation, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the imaging unit fixed and changing the aircraft's orientation in the air. The aircraft hovers and rotates as a whole to point the fixed camera toward different targets, eliminating the problem of the aircraft entering the camera's view angle.
2Device complexity
If the observation unit is fixedly attached to the base, then the connection is simplified and weight is reduced, but the observation device cannot adjust the observation direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the entire aircraft body dynamic and rotatable in three-dimensional space. Instead of having a fixed aircraft orientation, the aircraft can hover and rotate to any orientation, allowing the fixed observation unit to capture targets in any direction. The aircraft's dynamic orientation adjustment replaces the need for a movable observation unit.
3Device complexity
If the thrusters are configured to generate propulsion force with fixed direction, then the structure is simpler, but the aircraft cannot hover in inclined orientation or move in arbitrary directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the thruster configuration dynamic by allowing the direction of propulsion force to be adjusted. The thrusters can change their thrust direction relative to the base, enabling the aircraft to hover in inclined orientations and move in arbitrary directions. This dynamic thruster adjustment allows the aircraft to achieve any spatial orientation while keeping the observation unit fixed.
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 observation device can hover and move while maintaining an inclined orientation, allowing the observation unit to face any arbitrary direction, simplifying the connection between the base and the unit, reducing weight, and enabling observation across all 4π steradians of solid angles.
Implementation Method 1
an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that detects an orientation of the base with respect to a ground surface
Implementation Method 2
at least two thrusters that generate a propulsion force including lift
Data Source
AI summary
A observation device includes an aircraft and an observation unit attached to the aircraft that observes a target within a predetermined view angle. The aircraft includes a base, at least two thrusters that generate a propulsion force including lift, actuators that change a direction of the propulsion force generated by the thrusters with respect to the base, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that detects an orientation of the base with respect to a ground surface, and a controller that controls the thrusters and the actuators based on the orientation of the base detected by the IMU. The observation unit is fixedly attached to the base and the aircraft is configured to fly in any arbitrary orientation with respect to the ground surface through a combination of a magnitude of the propulsion force and the direction of the propulsion force of each of the thrusters.