Multicopter Landing Platform Grooves for Self-Orientation and Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UAV landing platforms lack the ability to ensure precise, all-season protection and safe landing, particularly for multicopters, due to random rotation angles of motor compartments at final landing positions, which can damage components and hinder camera orientation for surveillance, and often require expensive and complex designs.
Innovation Solution
A funnel-shaped landing platform with grooves and charging pads that guide multicopters into a predefined orientation using gravity and rotational torque, ensuring stable landing and immediate charging, while maintaining camera orientation for surveillance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional landing pad is used, then basic landing safety is provided, but precise orientation and all-season protection are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The landing platform employs a funnel-shaped structure with a curved surface that guides the multicopter during descent. The curved geometry naturally directs the vehicle toward the center landing zone, providing precise orientation without complex mechanical guidance systems, while maintaining structural simplicity and all-season durability.
2Area of stationary object
If motor compartments land in random orientations, then landing area is maximized, but component damage and camera misorientation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel structure incorporates asymmetric guiding features including angled surfaces and positioned elements that create directional forces during multicopter descent. This asymmetric design naturally guides the vehicle into a specific oriented position at the landing zone, ensuring motor compartments and cameras are properly positioned while maintaining a circular landing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel-shaped platform enables the multicopter to self-orient during descent through gravitational forces and geometric guidance. The structure passively guides the vehicle into the correct orientation without requiring active control systems or external intervention, achieving precise positioning through the inherent geometry of the landing surface.
3Manufacturing precision
If expensive complex landing platforms are used, then precise landing and charging are achieved, but cost and compactness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped structure provides precise landing guidance through its curved geometry, which naturally directs the multicopter to the center landing zone. This simple curved surface replaces complex mechanical guidance systems, achieving high landing precision with minimal structural complexity and lower manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The landing platform integrates multiple functions into a single unified structure: the funnel shape provides guidance and orientation, the central zone serves as the landing area, and integrated charging contacts are positioned at the bottom. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate guidance mechanisms and charging stations, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
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 platform enables self-orientation of multicopters for precise landing and charging, reducing damage risks and enhancing camera functionality, with a compact and cost-effective design suitable for various weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of grooves formed in the top segment that guide a multicopter from the top portion of the top segment to the cross-section using gravity, the grooves applying a rotational torque to the multicopter to cause the multicopter to assume a particular orientation
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of grooves formed in the top segment that guide a multicopter from the top portion of the top segment to the cross-section using gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A multicopter landing platform includes a top segment having a first opening at a top portion and a second, smaller opening at a bottom portion, a cross-section at the opening of the bottom portion, and a plurality of grooves formed in the top segment that guide a multicopter from the top portion of the top segment to the cross-section using gravity, the grooves applying a rotational torque to the multicopter to cause the multicopter to assume a particular orientation as the multicopter descends from the first opening of the top segment toward the cross-section. The grooves may engage with protrusions on the multicopter to apply the rotational torque thereto. The number of grooves may be derived from the number of protrusions of the multicopter. The grooves may extend to the cross-section. The grooves may cause the multicopter to rest at a fixed orientation when the multicopter is at the cross-section.