Flexible UAV Wings for Third-Person Flight Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-copter drones are difficult to see, especially during the day due to limited visibility of anticollision lights against a background sky, which complicates third-person flight modes for pilots and ground observers.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates passive flexural wings and tentacles that oscillate between 0.01 and 15 Hz, enhancing visibility through Observed Motion Energy (OME) and Visual Cross Section (VCS) by reflecting light and moving within natural frequency bands, without direct mechanical linkage, using thrust variations and aerodynamic forces to excite structural and aeromechanical vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multi-copter drones are designed without large surfaces like airplane wings, then the drone structure is simplified, but third-person flight visibility deteriorates because there are no large surfaces for pilots to cue from

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrone structureVSAvoidthird-person flight visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible wings provide dynamic visual cues through their oscillation and movement, enabling third-person flight without requiring large rigid surfaces. The motion generated by the flexible wings at natural frequencies creates observable patterns that pilots can use for orientation and flight state detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates reflective materials and visual markers on the flexible wings that enhance contrast and visibility. These visual enhancements allow the wings to stand out against the background sky during daytime while maintaining the simplified multi-copter structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

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

Significantly improves the visibility of drones in both daytime and nighttime conditions, aiding pilots and ground observers by capturing human attention with dynamic reflections and movements, thus enhancing situational awareness and flight state cues.

Implementation Method 1

designed to possess structural natural frequencies between 0.01 and 15 Hz when in static, hovering flight or on the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNatural frequency oscillation: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

enhancing visibility through Observed Motion Energy (OME) and Visual Cross Section (VCS) by reflecting light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

The flight control system induces oscillatory motions in the plurality of passive flexural wings by dynamic variations in in rotor speeds of the rotor and variations in thrust levels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAeromechanical vibration induction: Flutter

Data Source

PatentUS12145727B2Enhanced observability uninhabited aerial vehicles and methods of use

Publication Date: 2024.11.19 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

AI summary

Aerial vehicles, their structures and methods of locomotion are described. An aerial vehicle may include a fuselage having an x-axis, a plurality of flexible structures emanating from the fuselage that take the form of a feather, wing and/or tentacle, at least one motor, and at least one propeller driven by one or more motors. Each flexible structure may extend from a fuselage in any direction and are used to enhance the observability of the aircraft by moving and/or oscillating within a frequency band and at a magnitude that is more easily observed by and catches the human eye.