Precision Delivery Vehicle With Folding Wings And Deployable Rotor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current payload delivery systems, whether fixed wing or rotorcraft, face challenges in achieving precise delivery to remote or inaccessible targets due to factors like wind shifts and atmospheric changes, often resulting in payloads landing miles away from the intended target.
Innovation Solution
A precision delivery vehicle equipped with a combination of fixed wing and rotor systems, along with a guidance system, allowing for transition between fixed wing flight and rotative flight, enabling accurate targeting and controlled descent of payloads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If parachutes are used to deliver payloads to remote targets, then the delivery vehicle can remain at a safe distance from the target, but the payload landing accuracy deteriorates significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery vehicle dynamically transitions from fixed-wing flight mode to rotorcraft mode during the delivery process. The rotor blades are deployed from a retracted position to a rotational position, enabling the vehicle to switch from uncontrolled parachute delivery to controlled rotorcraft delivery, thereby improving landing accuracy while maintaining safety distance from the target
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle changes its flight parameters by deploying rotor blades that were previously retracted. This parameter change enables the vehicle to transition from a passive parachute delivery system to an active rotorcraft control system, allowing precise control of the payload's descent and landing location
2Speed
If fixed wing aircraft are used for payload delivery, then the vehicle can maintain high speed and range, but the ability to deliver to remote or dangerous zones deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery vehicle is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both fixed-wing flight capability for high-speed transport and rotorcraft capability for precise delivery to remote or dangerous zones. The rotor blades can be deployed or retracted based on the operational phase, allowing the same vehicle to perform both long-range high-speed flight and precise low-altitude delivery operations
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle dynamically reconfigures its flight mode by deploying rotor blades during the delivery phase. This dynamic transformation from fixed-wing to rotorcraft mode enables the vehicle to adapt to the specific requirements of remote or dangerous target zones while maintaining the speed and range advantages of fixed-wing flight during the transit phase
3Measurement precision
If rotorcraft are used for precise payload delivery, then landing accuracy can be improved, but the complexity of the vehicle system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blades are nested within the fuselage structure when not in use, with the rotor hub and blades stored inside the body cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the rotorcraft components to be integrated within the existing fixed-wing vehicle structure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the capability for precise rotorcraft delivery when needed
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
Enables precise and accurate delivery of payloads to small target areas, even in remote or inaccessible locations, by utilizing the guidance system to direct the vehicle during both fixed wing and rotative flight phases, ensuring the payload reaches the intended location.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor system includes a mast structure, a rotor hub rotatable about the mast structure and at least two rotor blades coupled to the rotor hub and rotatable with the rotor hub relative to the mast structure
Implementation Method 2
The guidance system is structurally configured to direct the precision delivery vehicle to a target
Data Source
AI summary
A precision delivery vehicle having a vehicle body assembly, a fixed wing system, a rotor system and a guidance system. The vehicle body assembly can retain a payload. The fixed wing system includes first and second wings coupled to the vehicle body for fixed wing flight. The rotor system includes a mast structure, a rotor hub rotatable about the mast structure and at least two rotor blades coupled to the rotor hub and rotatable with the rotor hub relative to the mast structure. The at least two rotor blades are movable between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the precision delivery vehicle is in fixed wing flight. Upon placement of the at least two rotor blades into the deployed configuration, the precision delivery vehicle is placed into rotative flight. The guidance system is structurally configured to direct the precision delivery vehicle to a target.