Modular Vehicle Add-On Structures for Rapid Capability Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles are designed for specific purposes and lack the ability to easily convert between different functionalities, such as passenger transport and cargo carrying, especially in finely tuned systems like small flight vehicles, where seats or cargo areas are built into the frame and not easily adaptable.
Innovation Solution
A modular design concept that allows for the attachment of replacement modules, such as seats or cargo containers, to vehicles through standardized connection mechanisms, enabling quick and seamless changes in functionality by using adaptive control systems that adjust to the added modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle is designed for a specific purpose with built-in structures (seats or cargo areas), then the vehicle achieves optimized performance for that specific function, but the vehicle loses the ability to easily convert to different purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle structure is divided into a base platform and interchangeable modules. The base vehicle contains standardized connection points and attachment mechanisms, while specific functions are implemented through separate modules (seats, cargo areas, equipment containers) that can be attached or removed as needed, allowing functional conversion without redesigning the entire vehicle structure
Solution Approach 2:
The base vehicle is designed with universal standardized connection points and attachment mechanisms that can accommodate multiple different modules. These standardized interfaces enable the same vehicle platform to support various functionalities (passenger transport, cargo carrying, equipment deployment) by simply changing the attached module, achieving multi-functionality without requiring vehicle-specific custom structures for each purpose
2Reliability
If seats or cargo areas are built into the vehicle frame, then the structure achieves optimal support and stability for the intended purpose, but the structure becomes difficult to change or reconfigure
Solution Approach 1:
The structural support system is segmented into the base vehicle frame and separate modular modules. Each module is designed with standardized connection interfaces that provide reliable structural attachment to the base frame, ensuring stability during operation. At the same time, this segmentation allows modules to be easily detached and replaced by changing the attached module rather than modifying the base structure, achieving both structural reliability and operational flexibility
3Productivity
If a vehicle is designed around a specific use case, then the design achieves optimal efficiency for that purpose, but the vehicle cannot easily adapt to new or different requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle configuration is made dynamic through the ability to interchange modules based on operational requirements. The base vehicle maintains its optimized structure for general purposes, while specific functional modules can be attached when needed. This dynamic reconfigurability allows the system to adapt to different requirements without sacrificing the efficiency of the base design, as the base vehicle structure remains optimized and only the attached modules change based on operational needs
Data Source
AI summary
Modular add-on structures may be connected to a structure, such as a multi-rotor flight vehicle, using connection and release apparatuses. Replacement modules may be interchanged in one or more locations on the platform structure, and may provide an operating component that enables a capability once added, such as a medical bed for medical evacuation, a seat for manned flight control, a seat for passive riders, a cargo hold for the transportation of cargo, a cargo hold for transportation of an aid package, a liquid dispersing mechanism for dispersion of a liquid, other projectile disbursement mechanisms for disbursement of other non-liquid or projectile disbursement, flight through propulsion enabling attachment. A flight vehicle, such as a multi-rotorcraft flight vehicle, may support different capabilities and functionalities, where the design of the multi-rotorcraft, modular add-on structures, and multi-rotorcraft functionality, configuration, control, and shape, enable different uses, capabilities, and functionality.