Modular Drone Lighting System with Collapsible Armature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems lack flexibility and adaptability in illuminating moving targets in rough terrain and require scalable, dynamic lighting solutions for various applications, including medical and dental examinations, and machine vision tasks.
Innovation Solution
A coordinated lighting system comprising drones with modular lighting assemblies and collapsible armatures, equipped with adjustable light sources and positioning mechanisms, allowing for flexible configuration and precise control of light emissions to achieve uniform and focused illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lighting systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different terrains and applications is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent lighting modules that can be individually controlled and positioned. Each module contains its own light source, positioning mechanism, and control electronics, allowing the system to be configured in different arrangements depending on the application requirements while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is designed to perform multiple functions including illumination, machine vision support, and adaptive positioning. The same modular architecture serves both medical/dental examination applications and machine vision tasks, allowing a single system design to adapt to different terrains and applications without requiring completely separate systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed lighting arrangements are used, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to illuminate moving targets in rough terrain is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system incorporates dynamic positioning mechanisms that allow the lighting modules to move and adjust their positions in real-time. This enables the system to track and illuminate moving targets in rough terrain, with each module capable of independent positioning adjustments based on feedback from sensors and control algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from machine vision sensors and positioning systems to continuously adjust the lighting module positions and orientations. This closed-loop control allows the lighting system to adapt to moving targets and changing terrain conditions, maintaining optimal illumination without requiring manual reconfiguration
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular lighting assemblies are implemented, then the adaptability and scalability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into standardized modular assemblies that can be independently manufactured, tested, and deployed. Each module contains complete functionality (light source, positioning, control), allowing the system to scale from small to large configurations by simply adding or removing modules rather than redesigning the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The modular lighting assemblies are designed to be nested or stacked configurations, with modules that can be arranged in hierarchical structures. This nesting approach allows compact storage and transport while enabling scalable deployment where multiple modules can be integrated to create larger lighting arrays for different application scales
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for controlling a plurality of lighting assemblies and a plurality of imagers configured to capture image data in a plurality fields of an operating region comprises a collapsible armature comprising a plurality of linkages configured to extend between an extended arrangement and a collapsed arrangement. The extended arrangement positions the lighting assemblies in a first spacing, and the collapsed arrangement positions the lighting assemblies in a second spacing. A controller is configured to control lighting emissions from light sources of the lighting assemblies based on the predetermined first spacing and detect at least one object in the fields of view and control the lighting assemblies to illuminate the at least one object.