Foldable UAV Arm Hinge and Movable Holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-copters face inefficiencies in storage due to their arm and rotor structure, which occupies a large horizontal dimension, making it difficult to store them in a space-efficient manner.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a foldable arm structure with a movable arm holder that allows the arm to be slid and rotated, reducing the horizontal dimension of the airframe, and includes a hinge at the arm's middle portion to optimize folding, preventing accidental rotation during flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the arm is made foldable at the base end portion, then the horizontal dimension is reduced, but the leading end portion interferes with the ground when skid height is smaller than arm length
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is divided into multiple sections with a hinge at the middle portion, allowing the leading end portion to be segmented and positioned separately. This segmentation enables the arm to fold without the leading end interfering with the ground, as the hinge allows the distal section to clear the ground while folded.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the folding mechanism from the base end portion to the middle portion of the arm, changing the dimensional relationship between the folded arm and the ground. By positioning the hinge at the middle, the leading end portion can be oriented in a different spatial dimension that avoids ground interference while maintaining compact folded dimensions.
2Device complexity
If the arm holder is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the arm cannot be adjusted to optimize space-saving effect
Solution Approach 1:
The arm holder is designed as a movable member that can slide along the arm in the longitudinal direction. This dynamic capability allows the arm holder to adjust its position, enabling optimization of the space-saving effect when the arm is folded, while maintaining relatively simple structure through straightforward sliding motion along the arm's length.
3Device complexity
If the arm is insufficiently fixed to the arm holder, then the structure is simple, but the arm may be unintentionally turned upward during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The arm holder is designed with preliminary anti-action to prevent unintentional upward rotation of the arm during flight. The movable arm holder can be positioned and secured to counteract any forces that might cause the arm to rotate upward, providing preventive stabilization before flight conditions arise.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm holder is preliminarily positioned and secured to the arm at an optimal location before flight. This preliminary action ensures the arm is properly fixed and stabilized, preventing unintentional rotation during flight while maintaining a relatively simple fixation structure without requiring complex locking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle having an airframe whose horizontal dimension is efficiently reduced. This object is solved by an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes: a rotor; an arm; and an arm connector. The arm connector includes an arm holder that is a fixing member holding a part of the arm in a longitudinal direction of the arm. The part of the arm held by the arm holder is changeable by sliding the arm in the longitudinal direction of the arm relative to the arm holder. The arm holder is a movable member movable in directions in which the arm is turned upward and downward and/or rightward and leftward. The object is also solved by an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes: a rotor; an arm; and an arm connector. The arm is provided with a hinge on which the arm is foldable at a middle portion of the arm.