Packable Modular Quadcopter with Hinged Arm Deployment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quadcopters lack mission flexibility due to designs that compromise on stowage and transportation, as they often require large deployment footprints and are not easily adaptable for carrying multiple payloads in different orientations.
Innovation Solution
A modular quadcopter design featuring a housing with vertical orientation, quadrilateral extensions with hinges, and arms equipped with electric motors and speed controllers, allowing for easy folding and reconfiguration for stowage and deployment, enabling vertical flight and the ability to carry two payloads by rotating the arms and changing motor and speed controller combinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional quadcopters are designed with fixed arm structures for stable flight, then flight stability is improved, but the device cannot be folded for compact stowage and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the quadcopter arms movable rather than fixed. The arms can pivot between a deployed position for flight and a folded position for stowage. This dynamic configuration allows the structure to adapt between two states: stable for flight operations and compact for transportation, resolving the contradiction between flight stability and stowage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the quadcopter structure into modular components - the central body housing and four separate arms that can be independently positioned. Each arm is a distinct segment that can be folded against the body or extended outward, allowing the overall structure to be compact during stowage while maintaining full functionality during flight operations.
2Volume of moving object
If quadcopters are designed with foldable arms for compact stowage, then stowage volume is reduced, but mission flexibility and payload adaptability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic arm configuration allows the quadcopter to transition between compact and deployed states. When deployed, the arms provide full mission flexibility for various payloads and flight patterns. The same dynamic mechanism enables compact stowage when missions are complete, thus achieving both reduced stowage volume and maintained mission flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The quadcopter design incorporates universal mounting capabilities on the central body housing that can accommodate different payload types. The foldable arms themselves serve multiple functions - providing structural support during flight and acting as protective covers during stowage. This multi-functionality maintains adaptability while enabling compact design.
3Device complexity
If quadcopters use traditional horizontal arm configurations for stable flight, then flight control is simplified, but the ability to carry payloads in different orientations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic positioning of the arms relative to the central body, allowing them to be oriented in different configurations. During flight, the arms can be positioned to optimize flight control characteristics. For payload operations, the same arms can be repositioned to accommodate different payload orientations, thus achieving both simplified control and enhanced adaptability through dynamic reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical dimension to the traditional horizontal arm configuration. The arms can be positioned not only in horizontal planes but also at vertical angles relative to the central body. This dimensional expansion allows payloads to be carried in multiple orientations (horizontal, vertical, angled) while maintaining flight control through the same basic arm structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular quadcopter is provided for vertical flight. The quadcopter includes a housing, a quadrilateral set of extensions, and a quadrilateral set of arms. The housing contains flight control and sensor equipment, and has a relative vertical orientation. The housing is configurable for either stowage or deployment. The extensions are disposed on each corner of the housing. Each extension has a hinge that pitches outward and upward. Each arm is disposed on the hinge and contains an electric motor and a speed controller. The configurable below the housing for the stowage and extends radially from respective the extension in relation to the orientation for the deployment.