Nested Monocoque Wing for Rapid UAS Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) face limitations in mobility and ease of assembly, requiring multiple personnel and tools, which hampers their effectiveness in combat and other operational scenarios, and there is a need for a more portable and quickly deployable design.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible wing design featuring nested monocoque sections that can be easily extended and secured, allowing for single-person deployment without tools, using lightweight high-strength composite materials and innovative locking mechanisms, enabling compact storage and rapid assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing UAS are transported in disassembled state with wing detached from fuselage, then the UAS can be transported in standard containers, but multiple boxes of full wing size are required and two or more personnel are needed to move them

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transportVSAvoidnumber of boxes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The wing is designed with nested sections where smaller wing sections are contained within larger ones, and the entire wing nests within the fuselage. This hierarchical nesting structure reduces the number of separate transport boxes needed and allows single-person handling of the complete assembled set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If existing UAS assembly requires tools and multiple personnel, then structural integrity can be ensured, but assembly time increases and usability in combat situations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wing is divided into multiple detachable sections that can be independently handled and assembled. This segmentation allows the wing to be constructed from smaller manageable pieces without requiring complex tools or multiple personnel, as each section is designed for simple connection to the next.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wing sections are pre-configured with attachment features and alignment mechanisms that enable intuitive assembly without requiring complex tooling or extensive training. The preliminary design of self-aligning connection points allows rapid assembly by personnel wearing protective gear or operating in low visibility conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9371130B1Collapsible wing and unmanned aircraft systems including collapsible wing

Publication Date: 2016.06.21 CAWTU

AI summary

A collapsible wing, methods of producing the collapsible wing, and an unmanned aircraft system that includes the collapsible wing are provided.