Gimbaled Thrust Module for Stable Drone Direction Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flight vehicles face challenges in freely switching directions during flight without compromising the performance of tasks like photography or cargo transport, as they often need to be inclined, leading to difficulties in maintaining a stable field of view or preventing damage to transported objects.
Innovation Solution
A flight vehicle design featuring a thrust module that can independently perform roll and pitch motions relative to a main module, utilizing a joint module with pivotable upper and lower joint members and a link module with variable link units and actuators to maintain a stable posture of the main module while allowing the thrust module to change direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flight vehicle is inclined to switch flight directions, then the flight vehicle can change direction during flight, but the posture of the main module becomes unstable affecting task performance
Solution Approach 1:
The flight vehicle is divided into two independent modules: a main module that maintains stable posture and a thrust module that performs roll and pitch motions for direction switching. The joint module connects these segments, allowing independent motion of each module to resolve the contradiction between direction switching and posture stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint module is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow the thrust module to perform roll and pitch motions relative to the main module. This dynamic connection enables the thrust module to change direction while the main module maintains a stable posture, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire flight vehicle is inclined to switch directions, then direction change is achieved, but the photographing field of view becomes out of target point
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the flight vehicle into a main module (carrying the photographing device) and a thrust module, the photographing device remains stable on the main module while the thrust module handles direction switching. This segmentation ensures the photographing field of view remains accurate on the target point during direction changes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flight vehicle is inclined during direction switching, then direction change is enabled, but transport objects may be inclined and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo transport function is separated into the main module, which maintains a stable posture, while the thrust module handles all inclination and direction changes. This segmentation ensures that transport objects remain stable and undamaged during direction switching maneuvers.
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
Enables the flight vehicle to switch directions freely without affecting the posture of the main module, ensuring continuous and stable task performance, such as photography or cargo transport, by allowing independent roll and pitch motions of the thrust module.
Implementation Method 1
the joint module includes an upper joint member pivotable with respect to a first pivoting shaft extending in a horizontal direction; a lower joint member pivotable with respect to a second pivoting shaft orthogonal to the first pivoting shaft and extending in the horizontal direction
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a flight vehicle and in particular a flight vehicle in which a main module equipped with a device capable of carrying cargo, photographing, etc. may freely switch directions during flight while applying a posture independent of a thrust module because the thrust module is configured to freely perform roll and pitch motions with respect to the main module.