Modular Autonomous Aircraft Assembly to Reduce Fleet Maintenance Costs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and maintenance expenses associated with developing and maintaining multiple types of autonomous carrier aircraft for military missions, as well as the need to enhance intervention capabilities in dense anti-aircraft defense environments, are significant challenges.
Innovation Solution
A modular assembly of autonomous aircraft is introduced, comprising common and specific modules that can be easily interconnected, including propulsion, guidance, control, lift, detection, and armament modules, allowing for the creation of air groups with diverse functions while reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of autonomous carrier aircraft are developed for different military missions, then intervention capabilities in dense anti-aircraft defense environments are enhanced, but manufacturing and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous carrier aircraft is divided into modular components: common modules (fuselage, propulsion, control systems) and specific mission modules (sensors, jammers, weapons). This segmentation allows different mission-specific modules to be attached to a standardized common module platform, enabling versatile intervention capabilities while reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs through component standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The common module platform is designed with universal interfaces and standardized mounting systems that can accommodate multiple types of specific mission modules. This multi-functionality allows a single common module to serve various military missions by simply changing the attached specific module, thereby enhancing adaptability without proportionally increasing manufacturing costs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If several types of autonomous carrier aircraft with different functions are maintained, then mission flexibility is improved, but maintenance expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the aircraft into common modules and specific mission modules, maintenance personnel can quickly identify and replace only the faulty specific module without affecting the common module. This reduces maintenance time and expenses while maintaining mission flexibility, as the same common module can be reused across different mission configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables rapid replacement of damaged or depleted specific mission modules with pre-positioned spare modules. The common module is preserved and can be quickly reconfigured for different missions, reducing overall maintenance expenses while maintaining operational flexibility.
3Reliability
If multiple specialized autonomous aircraft are developed, then detection and destruction capabilities are enhanced, but the complexity of the air fleet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air fleet complexity is reduced by segmenting specialized capabilities into interchangeable specific mission modules that attach to a standardized common module platform. This allows detection and destruction capabilities to be enhanced through module selection rather than developing entirely different aircraft types, simplifying fleet management and logistics.
Solution Approach 2:
The common module platform provides universal support for multiple detection and destruction capabilities through its ability to accommodate various specific modules. This multi-functionality reduces air fleet complexity by using a single platform architecture rather than maintaining separate specialized aircraft for each capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Modular assembly of autonomous aircraft, comprising common modules and specific modules that can be attached to each other, each of the modules comprising a shell forming a fuselage section, the common modules comprising: - propulsion modules provided with a motor, - guide modules provided with at least one movable flight surface and an actuator for moving the movable flight surface, - control modules incorporating an electronic control unit with means for connecting the latter to the motor and to the actuator, - lift modules provided with a wing system to provide lift to the autonomous aircraft, the specific modules comprising: - detection modules comprising at least one sensor of an aircraft environment, - weapon modules.