Monocoque VTOL Drone Blended Wing Body Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VTOL vehicles face challenges in energy efficiency, payload capacity, and accessibility due to restrictions on components for health and safety professionals and researchers.
Innovation Solution
The development of a novel small multirotor VTOL vehicle design featuring a monocoque aerostructure, blended center body, or blended wing body configuration, which enhances aerodynamic efficiency, structural reliability, and versatility, and can be fabricated using 3D printing for improved accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional VTOL vehicle designs are used, then component availability is limited due to restrictions for health and safety professionals and researchers, but the novel design achieves improved accessibility and ease of manufacture through 3D printing
Solution Approach 1:
The VTOL vehicle is divided into multiple separable components including fuselage, arms, propeller assemblies, and landing gear that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation enables 3D printing of individual parts and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The design utilizes parameter changes in manufacturing methods, transitioning from conventional restricted components to 3D printed parts with adjustable geometries. This allows customization of structural parameters while improving accessibility and reducing manufacturing constraints.
2Use of energy by moving object
If traditional multirotor configurations are used, then aerodynamic efficiency is limited, but the blended center body and blended wing body configurations achieve significant improvements in energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The fuselage and arm structures are merged into integrated blended center body and blended wing body configurations. This merging eliminates separate structural components, reduces overall vehicle weight, and improves aerodynamic efficiency by creating smooth transitional surfaces that reduce drag.
Solution Approach 2:
The design employs curved, aerodynamic surfaces in the blended center body and blended wing body configurations rather than sharp angular transitions. These curved surfaces improve airflow characteristics, reduce turbulence, and enhance energy efficiency while maintaining structural integrity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If standard VTOL designs are used, then flight duration and payload capacity are constrained, but the novel design achieves longer flight durations and greater payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The VTOL vehicle utilizes composite material construction in the 3D printed components, combining materials with optimal strength-to-weight ratios. This reduces overall vehicle weight while maintaining structural reliability, thereby extending flight duration and increasing payload capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design applies local quality optimization by varying wall thicknesses and structural densities in different regions of the 3D printed components. Critical load-bearing areas have enhanced structural properties while non-critical areas use lighter constructions, optimizing the weight-strength balance for extended flight operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new VTOL vehicle design achieves significant improvements in energy efficiency, allowing for longer flight durations and greater payload capacity, while also addressing component accessibility issues.
Implementation Method 1
Each rotor assembly includes a motor and a propeller
Implementation Method 2
The VTOL vehicle can hover, fly forward, and land vertically
Implementation Method 3
The VTOL vehicle has an airfoil-shaped fuselage that allows it to fly for relatively long periods of time
Implementation Method 4
significantly more energy efficient at higher speeds compared to existing drones
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a novel monocoque aerostructure quadcopter implemented as a vertical take-off and landing vehicle are described. In one example, a vertical take-off and landing vehicle includes a fuselage having a leading end positioned in a first horizontal plane and a trailing end positioned in a second horizontal plane that is vertically below the first horizontal plane. The vertical take-off and landing vehicle further includes a first arm assembly extending from the leading end of the fuselage in the first horizontal plane. The vertical take-off and landing vehicle further includes a second arm assembly extending from the trailing end of the fuselage in the second horizontal plane. The vertical take-off and landing vehicle further includes a first rotor assembly coupled to the first arm assembly and a second rotor assembly coupled to the second arm assembly.