Inflatable Support Structure for Foldable Drone Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable drones face issues with fragile articulated arms and hinge wear, leading to reduced stability and motor axis misalignment, which degrades flight performance and increases the risk of damage during transport and use.
Innovation Solution
A remote-controlled unmanned aircraft with an inflatable support structure featuring multiple branches that fold at various angles, providing shock resistance and protection for motors, and allowing for compact storage, while maintaining stability and ease of maintenance through axial extension and precise motor positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If articulated arms are used to enable folding, then the drone becomes transportable, but the arms become fragile and prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using inflatable arms made of flexible material that can be inflated to provide structural support during flight and deflated for compact storage. This eliminates fragile rigid joints and hinges while maintaining the ability to fold and transport the drone, directly resolving the contradiction between transportability and structural durability.
2Volume of moving object
If hinges are used to enable folding, then the drone becomes compact for storage, but the hinges are prone to wear and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable arms replace traditional mechanical hinges entirely, using air pressure to enable folding and positioning adjustments without mechanical joints. This eliminates wear and deformation issues while maintaining compact storage capability when deflated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible inflatable arms made of thin film material that can bend and fold without rigid joints. The flexible material allows the structure to be compact for storage while maintaining integrity and avoiding the wear problems associated with traditional hinges.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid frame is used for structural stability, then flight stability is maintained, but the drone cannot be easily transported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static rigid frame into a dynamic structure that can change its properties: when inflated, the arms provide rigid structural support for stable flight; when deflated, the same structure becomes flexible and compact for transport. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between flight stability and transportability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the support structure by controlling inflation and deflation parameters. By adjusting the air pressure in the inflatable arms, the structure transitions between a rigid state (providing flight stability) and a flexible state (enabling compact transport), directly resolving the contradiction.
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
The inflatable structure enhances impact resistance, allows for compact and secure transport, and maintains flight stability by distributing forces evenly, while enabling easy access for maintenance and precise motor alignment, thus improving the drone's overall performance and lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
Since the axial ends of the arms are inflatable, they can advantageously absorb shocks, thus increasing the aircraft's lifespan.
Implementation Method 2
an inflatable support structure offers high impact resistance
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4B
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AI summary
A remote-controlled unmanned foldable aircraft (1) comprises at least two motors (3) that allow the aircraft (1) to fly, and at least one support structure (2) for supporting said motors (3); the support structure (2) is flexible and inflatable such that the support structure (2) can be folded and unfolded between a storage position and an operational position.