Vertical Multicopter Attachment Subsystem for Mid-Flight Battery Swap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertically-stacked multicopter systems face challenges in maintaining efficient operation and uptime due to the need for all multicopters to land for recharging, especially when one multicopter's battery is low, and there is a lack of redundancy in load-carrying configurations.
Innovation Solution
The system allows for detachable coupling of multicopters to a vertical connector, enabling mid-flight replacement of low-battery multicopters with fully-charged ones, using cam cleats, linear gates, and stoppers to manage tether attachment and detachment, ensuring minimal propeller interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all multicopters must land for recharging when one battery is low, then system simplicity is maintained, but system downtime increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the multicopter fleet into independent operational units that can be individually attached and detached from the vertical connector, allowing one multicopter to be recharged without affecting others. Each multicopter has its own attachment interface with cam cleats and linear gates that enable independent coupling and decoupling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system incorporates dynamic elements including movable linear gates that can open and close, cam cleats that can engage and disengage, and spring-loaded stoppers that automatically position themselves. These dynamic components enable mid-flight attachment and detachment operations without requiring system shutdown or complete landing.
2Productivity
If mid-flight replacement is enabled, then duty cycle increases, but tether entanglement with propellers becomes a risk
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical connector acts as an intermediary structure that provides a dedicated tether management system. The tether runs through guide structures and stoppers on the connector, keeping it organized and away from propeller rotation zones. This intermediary system mediates between the multicopter's propulsion system and the load-bearing function, preventing direct interference between moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from horizontal tether management to vertical tether management by using the vertical connector as an anchor point. The tether extends vertically along the connector rather than horizontally across the flight path, utilizing the vertical dimension to organize the tether away from propeller interference zones and reduce entanglement risks during mid-flight operations.
3Reliability
If detachable coupling is implemented, then redundancy in load-carrying configurations increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical connector serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the load, acts as an attachment interface for multiple multicopters, manages tether routing, and positions stoppers for automatic engagement. This universal component consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems, achieving redundancy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system merges the tether attachment function with the structural support function by integrating the tether interface directly into the vertical connector structure. The cam cleats, linear gates, and stoppers are combined into a single integrated coupling mechanism that simultaneously secures both the tether and the multicopter, reducing the number of separate components needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of vertically-stacked multicopters detachably couples to a vertical connector to transport a load that is detachably coupled to the vertical connector. In the event an indication signal of a beam break sensor indicates the vertical connector has broken the beam, the movable gate is configured to close so that the vertical connector is enclosed at least in part by the movable gate. An opening in a frame provides access for the vertical connector to access the beam of the beam break sensor.