Host-Parasite Drone Deployment Mechanism for Relay Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges with line of sight communication issues and limited flight time due to terrain obstructions and battery power limitations, respectively.
Innovation Solution
Attaching UAVs, referred to as parasite aerial vehicles, to a host aircraft that maintains line of sight with a ground control system, allowing the UAVs to detach and fly closer to the region of interest undetected, with the host aircraft using a series-hybrid power source for extended flight times and a retention mechanism for precise deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If UAVs use point-to-point radios for communication, then communication is possible, but terrain obstructions reduce communication range
Solution Approach 1:
The host aircraft serves as an intermediary communication relay between the parasite UAV and the ground control station. The parasite UAV communicates with the host aircraft via radio, which then relays the communication to the ground control station, bypassing terrain obstructions that would block direct line-of-sight communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The host aircraft operates at a higher altitude dimension, allowing it to maintain line-of-sight communication with the ground control station while the parasite UAV operates closer to the terrain. This vertical dimensionality change enables the intermediary to overcome terrain obstructions.
2Duration of action of moving object
If UAVs use battery power, then operation is possible, but flight time is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The parasite UAV merges with the host aircraft's power system by harvesting electrical power during attachment. The host aircraft's electrical system charges the parasite UAV's battery, combining the power resources of both platforms to extend the parasite's operational duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The parasite UAV's battery is charged in advance during the attachment phase before deployment. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the parasite to achieve extended flight time without carrying a larger battery, as the charging occurs while the host aircraft is already operational.
3Manufacturing precision
If parasite UAVs are deployed from host aircraft, then deployment precision is improved, but retention mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism uses magnetic coupling instead of complex mechanical fasteners. The magnetic attachment provides sufficient holding force during flight while allowing for simple, precise deployment through electronic control, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining deployment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier aerial vehicle system includes a propulsion component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to be in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a retention mechanism configured to allow a plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles to be coupled to the retention mechanism and released from the retention mechanism while the carrier aerial vehicle system is in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wireless communicate with the plurality of parasite deployable aerial vehicles. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a processor configured to determine a position on the retention mechanism for each deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.