Shipment Transfer Assembly for Guided Drone-to-Container Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer of shipments from unmanned transport devices to receiving containers, especially over the 'last meter', often results in damage due to inaccurate landing or dropping, particularly for fragile goods, and is hindered by geographical or structural conditions.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device is integrated into the receiving container, designed to guide the shipment during lowering or raising, using mechanisms like scissor lifts, gripping arms, or suction devices to ensure safe and controlled handover, preventing accidental falling or slipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the unmanned aircraft drops the shipment from the receiving container, then the transfer process is simplified, but the fragile goods are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A transfer device acts as an intermediary between the unmanned aircraft and the receiving container. This transfer device includes a transfer element that can be extended from the receiving container to contact the shipment during transfer, providing controlled guidance and support to prevent damage while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device is prepared in advance by extending the transfer element from the receiving container before the shipment arrives. This preliminary positioning ensures that the transfer path is ready and controlled, allowing for safe reception of the shipment without damage
2Length of stationary object
If the unmanned aircraft lands accurately on the receiving container, then the transfer distance is minimized, but the landing precision requirement increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the unmanned aircraft and the receiving container. By extending the transfer element, it reduces the effective transfer distance without requiring the aircraft to achieve highly precise landing, thus lowering the landing precision requirement while minimizing transfer distance
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device is designed to be dynamically adjustable, with the transfer element capable of extending and retracting. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying landing positions and distances, reducing the need for high landing precision while maintaining minimal transfer distance
3Reliability
If the unmanned aircraft remains at a distance of 2m from the receiving container due to geographical conditions, then the landing safety is improved, but the transfer complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device incorporates dynamic extension capabilities, allowing the transfer element to reach outward from the receiving container. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to handle varying distances (including the 2m distance mentioned) without increasing overall system complexity, maintaining both landing safety and transfer efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly comprising an unmanned transport device (1) for delivering a shipment (2) and a transfer device (4), said transfer device (4) being designed to lower the shipment (2) from the unmanned transport device (1) to a receiving container (3), to lift the shipment from the receiving container (3) to the transport device (1) and/or to transfer said shipment between the transport device (1) and the receiving container (3), the shipment being guided in each case by the transfer device (4).