Host-Parasite Drone Retention Mechanism for Line-of-Sight Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges with line of sight communication issues and limited flight time due to terrain obstructions and battery power limitations, respectively.
Innovation Solution
Attaching UAVs, referred to as parasite aerial vehicles, to a host aircraft that maintains line of sight with a ground control station, allowing the UAVs to detach and fly closer to the region of interest undetected, while the host aircraft extends communication range and flight time through a series-hybrid power source and a retention mechanism for precise deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UAVs use point-to-point radios for communication, then communication quality is improved, but communication range is reduced due to line of sight requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The host aircraft serves as an intermediary communication relay between the parasite UAVs and the ground control station. The UAVs communicate with the host aircraft via point-to-point radios maintaining high communication quality, while the host aircraft maintains separate point-to-point radio links with the ground control station, effectively extending the overall communication range beyond what individual UAVs could achieve alone.
2Measurement precision
If UAVs fly closer to the region of interest, then reconnaissance capability is improved, but detectability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the reconnaissance function between the host aircraft and multiple parasite UAVs. The host aircraft maintains a higher altitude position that provides lower detectability, while the parasite UAVs are deployed in segmented fashion to specific positions closer to the region of interest, allowing high-resolution reconnaissance without requiring the entire system to be detectable.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the system have different operational characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The host aircraft operates at higher altitudes with characteristics optimized for stealth and long-endurance flight, while the parasite UAVs operate at lower altitudes closer to the ground with characteristics optimized for detailed local reconnaissance, allowing each component to operate in its optimal performance zone.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If UAVs use battery power, then operational quietness is improved, but flight time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The host aircraft serves multiple functions: it acts as a mobile platform for deploying parasite UAVs, provides extended communication relay capabilities, and functions as a mothership that can replenish or replace parasite UAVs. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve extended operational duration without requiring each individual UAV to have long battery life, as the host can support multiple deployment cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier aerial vehicle system includes a propulsion component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to be in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a retention mechanism configured to allow a plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles to be coupled to the retention mechanism and released from the retention mechanism while the carrier aerial vehicle system is in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wireless communicate with the plurality of parasite deployable aerial vehicles. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a processor configured to determine a position on the retention mechanism for each deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.