Foldable UAV Antenna Avoiding Camera Obstruction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in miniaturization and portability due to the need for antennas that are often obstructive to camera vision, particularly when using low-frequency antennas which require significant length, blocking the camera's field of view and hindering image acquisition.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an antenna with a bending part that is hingedly connected to the antenna body, allowing for adjustable angles to avoid the camera's field of view while maintaining effective radio signal transmission, utilizing limiting structures to set and adjust angles between the antenna and the arm or landing gear to ensure optimal positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a low frequency antenna of 900M is used to improve gain-receiving and anti-interference capabilities, then the antenna performance is improved, but the antenna length reaches at least 160mm which excessively blocks the vision of the camera apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple segments that can be folded relative to each other. The antenna includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a third antenna element connected in series, with folding joints between them. This segmentation allows the antenna to achieve a compact folded state that does not block the camera vision while maintaining the required electrical length for 900M frequency operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna incorporates folding joints that allow dynamic adjustment between a deployed state for signal reception and a folded state for avoiding camera obstruction. The antenna can be extended when communication is needed and retracted when camera operation is prioritized, providing dynamic adaptability between conflicting requirements.
2Reliability
If the antenna is mounted below the motor in the landing gear to ensure distance from the vehicle body, then the antenna signal is prevented from being blocked, but the landing gear cannot be folded which fails to meet miniaturization and portability requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna mounting structure is merged with the landing gear assembly. The antenna is mounted on the landing gear in such a way that when the landing gear folds, the antenna也随之 folds and moves away from the camera position. This merging allows the antenna to benefit from the landing gear's folding motion without requiring a separate mounting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is positioned and oriented in three-dimensional space to exploit spatial dimensions. By mounting the antenna on the landing gear and using folding joints, the antenna can move in multiple dimensions - extending vertically when needed and folding horizontally when the landing gear is retracted, thereby avoiding camera obstruction while maintaining signal capability.
3Reliability
If the antenna is kept vertical to ensure proper signal transmission, then the antenna function is maintained, but the antenna becomes a vehicle body component that blocks the vision of the camera apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna orientation is made dynamic rather than fixed vertical. The folding joints allow the antenna to change its orientation from a vertical extended position (for optimal signal transmission) to a folded position (reducing obstruction). This dynamic reconfiguration enables the antenna to adapt its orientation based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is pre-configured with folding joints and mounting structures that enable it to be positioned away from the camera's field of view when not in use. The limiting structures are pre-installed to automatically constrain the antenna at appropriate angles that avoid blocking the camera while maintaining electrical performance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention discloses an antenna and an unmanned aerial vehicle, where the antenna is applied to the unmanned aerial vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle includes a camera apparatus, the antenna including an antenna body and a bending part connected to the antenna body; and the bending part bends to a direction avoiding a field of view of the camera apparatus. Based on the foregoing technical solutions, in the embodiments of the present invention, it can be ensured that the antenna has a certain effective length to obtain a relatively strong radio signal, and avoids a shooting vision of the camera apparatus at the same time, so that images satisfying user demands are obtained.