Helicopter Load Placement System Using Winch and UAVs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Helicopter load placement is challenging due to swinging and rotating loads caused by wind and air turbulence, making it difficult for ground personnel to secure and align loads, and coordinating with helicopter pilots is complicated.
Innovation Solution
A load placement system using a winch system connected to a helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that allows remote control of lead lines to guide loads precisely onto ground targets, reducing the need for ground personnel and enhancing pilot control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ground personnel manually secure guy lines and guide loads into place, then load placement can be achieved, but the process becomes extremely difficult and time-consuming due to load swinging and rotating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations by ground personnel with an automated winch system controlled by the pilot. The winch system mechanically guides the load through controlled reeling of guy lines, eliminating the need for manual guidance and significantly improving both precision and speed of load placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot gains direct control over the load placement process through the winch system, allowing the operator to self-manage both helicopter flight and load positioning. This eliminates coordination delays with ground personnel and enables precise, rapid load placement without manual intervention.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple ground personnel are used to secure and align loads, then load placement can be achieved, but the system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The winch system serves multiple functions: it guides the load horizontally, controls vertical descent, and maintains load stability. By consolidating these functions into a single pilot-operated system, the patent eliminates the need for multiple ground personnel and complex coordination protocols while maintaining high alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The winch system acts as an intermediary between the pilot and the load, providing precise mechanical control that eliminates the need for direct human-to-human coordination. The system mediates the complex interaction between helicopter movement and load positioning, simplifying the overall control architecture.
3Productivity
If helicopter transport speed is increased, then productivity improves, but load stability decreases due to wind and air turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The winch system is prepared and positioned before load placement begins. By having the guidance system ready in advance, the pilot can rapidly deploy and control the load without delays, maintaining high transport speeds while ensuring immediate stability control upon load release.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot directly observes load position and makes real-time adjustments through the winch system. This immediate feedback loop allows the pilot to compensate for wind and turbulence effects during high-speed transport, maintaining load stability without reducing transport speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A load placement system precisely places slung loads by allowing a helicopter pilot to essentially reel the load to the ground. The placement system uses lead lines on the slung load that can be connected to the ground by support personnel. A winch system is connected to the lead lines and guides the load to an intended location. The placement system eliminates at least some of the ground personnel previously needed for pulling the load to a target location and orientation. The placement system may eliminate substantially all ground personnel by using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to automatically connect the lead lines to the ground. The UAVs also may actively control the slung load while in flight to reduce pilot workload and enable higher transport speeds.