Modular UAV Housing With Retractable Pads for Weather-Ready Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current housing structures for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack efficient and modular solutions for charging, sheltering, and storing UAVs, especially in varying weather conditions and during extended flights.

Innovation Solution

The development of modular housing structures with retractable landing pads and integrated charging systems, navigational aids, and climate control, allowing for scalable and adaptable housing solutions for UAVs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed housing structure is used for UAV storage and charging, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot adapt to varying weather conditions and extended flight needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to weather conditionsVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a retractable landing pad mechanism that can dynamically extend outward from the housing structure and retract inward. This dynamic component allows the housing to adapt between providing an open landing area and a closed protective enclosure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a retractable landing pad is added to the housing structure, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging and sheltering functionalityVSAvoidmechanical actuation system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retractable landing pad serves multiple functions: it provides a landing surface for UAVs, extends the housing structure outward for access, and when retracted, becomes part of the protective enclosure. This multi-functionality justifies the added mechanical complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If modular housing sections are used, then scalability and adaptability are improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescalable deploymentVSAvoidmodular assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently manufactured and then assembled together. Each module contains its own retractable landing pad mechanism, allowing for standardized production while enabling scalable deployment by adding or removing modules as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3784573B1Unmanned aerial vehicle housing
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 WING AVIATION LLC
  • EP3784573B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3784573B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3784573B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A modular housing structure for housing a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a plurality of housing segments and a plurality of landing pads. The plurality of housing segments are shaped to mechanically join together to define an interior of the modular housing structure. The individual housing segments have a common structural shape that repeats when assembled to form the modular housing structure. The plurality of landing pads are positioned within the individual housing segments, each of the landing pads sized to physically support and charge a corresponding one of the UAVs.