Pivoting Ring Wing Sections for UAV Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face design complexities in balancing stability, maneuverability, and energy efficiency, particularly in transitioning between vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and horizontal flight orientations, with existing designs often requiring tradeoffs between agility and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hexagonal ring wing configuration with pivotable sections and adjustable propulsion mechanisms that can orient in any of the six degrees of freedom, allowing for efficient transition between VTOL and horizontal flight orientations, and incorporating actuators and locking elements to manage wing section movement based on environmental and operational factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fixed-wing or multirotor configuration is used, then the vehicle can maintain stable flight, but it cannot efficiently transition between VTOL and horizontal flight orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The ring wing is divided into multiple independently pivotable sections that can rotate relative to each other about spanwise pivot axes. This segmentation allows different portions of the wing to be positioned at optimal angles for VTOL or horizontal flight, enabling efficient transition between flight modes without requiring complete reconfiguration of the entire vehicle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing sections are designed with dynamic pivotability, allowing them to change orientation from a horizontal position during VTOL flight to a vertical position during horizontal flight. This dynamic reconfiguration enables the vehicle to adapt its aerodynamic characteristics in real-time, transitioning smoothly between flight modes while maintaining stability and efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wing sections are made pivotable to improve maneuverability, then the vehicle can transition between flight orientations, but vibrations and turbulence increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable wing sections are equipped with actuators and locking elements that can pre-position the wings in optimal configurations before transitioning between flight modes. During VTOL and horizontal flight, the locking elements secure the wings in stable positions, preventing unwanted movement and reducing vibrations and turbulence while maintaining the benefits of reconfigurability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors flight conditions and automatically adjusts wing section positions to optimize aerodynamic performance while minimizing vibrations and turbulence. The system provides feedback control to maintain stable wing positions during each flight mode, reducing harmful oscillations while preserving the ability to transition between orientations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If locking elements are added to control wing section movement, then flight stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are designed to automatically engage and disengage based on wing section position, eliminating the need for complex external actuation systems. The mechanical locking mechanism self-activates when the wing reaches its optimal position for a given flight mode, providing stable positioning while minimizing additional mechanical complexity and reducing the number of separate actuators required.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to improve stability and control of an aerial vehicle are described. For an aerial vehicle having a ring wing around a fuselage and a plurality of propulsion mechanisms, one or more sections of the ring wing may be pivotable to reduce vibrations and forces transferred to the aerial vehicle, and to prevent stall and minimize turbulence experienced by the aerial vehicle. The pivotable sections of the ring wing may be freely pivotable, may include locking elements to prevent or allow pivoting, may include bias elements or dampening elements to partially control the free pivoting, or may include actuators to effect desired pivoting.