Payload Docking Mechanisms for In-Flight Aircraft Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payload designs and air transport systems using unmanned aircraft apparatuses face the limitation of insufficient non-stop flight range, necessitating frequent landings for maintenance and replenishment.
Innovation Solution
The payload and air transport system incorporate docking mechanisms that allow for detachable interaction between unmanned aircraft apparatuses, enabling direct replacement in the air without landing, thus enhancing stability, versatility, and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If unmanned aircraft apparatuses are used to transport payload through the air, then transport efficiency is improved, but non-stop flight range is insufficient requiring frequent landings for maintenance and replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the transport function into two separate components: a reusable payload and replaceable unmanned aircraft apparatuses. This segmentation allows the payload to remain in the air while the unmanned aircraft apparatuses are replaced, effectively extending the non-stop flight range without compromising transport efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic replacement of unmanned aircraft apparatuses during flight. The docking mechanisms enable the payload to exchange its unmanned aircraft apparatuses while in motion, transforming the static flight duration limitation into a dynamic replenishment process that extends operational range.
2Duration of action of moving object
If docking mechanisms are added to enable replacement of unmanned aircraft apparatuses in flight, then flight range is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking mechanisms are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as connection interfaces for attaching unmanned aircraft apparatuses and as guidance systems for their replacement. This universal design reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while enabling flight range extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking mechanisms are integrated within the existing structural framework of both the payload and unmanned aircraft apparatuses. By nesting the docking interfaces within the conventional designs, the system avoids adding external complexity while still enabling the flight range extension through in-flight replacement capability.
3Loss of energy
If in-flight replacement of unmanned aircraft apparatuses is enabled, then energy consumption is reduced by avoiding landings, but the docking interaction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking mechanisms are designed to automatically align and connect the unmanned aircraft apparatuses to the payload without requiring complex manual intervention. The self-aligning and self-connecting features reduce the operational complexity of in-flight replacement, thereby enabling energy savings from avoiding landings.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking mechanisms act as intermediaries that simplify the interaction between the payload and unmanned aircraft apparatuses during replacement. By providing a standardized intermediate interface, the system reduces the complexity of direct interaction, making in-flight replacement feasible and energy-efficient.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to embodiments of a payload comprising a housing provided with one or more toothed guides or with one or more docking mechanisms, each of which is configured to detachably toothedly interact with an unmanned aircraft apparatus being docked so as to enable the movement of said docked unmanned aircraft apparatus with respect to the housing of the payload, wherein the housing of the payload is further configured to detachably toothedly interact with yet another (other) unmanned aircraft apparatus so as to enable the action of said yet another unmanned aircraft apparatus onto said docked unmanned aircraft apparatus for withdrawal of the latter from interaction with the housing of the payload. Furthermore, the present invention relates to embodiments of an air transport system, each of which embodiments comprises two or more unmanned aircraft apparatuses and one of the above embodiments of a payload. 4 independent claims, 6 figures.