Reaction Wheel Image Pickup Stabilization in Microgravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices in microgravity environments experience intermittent position and attitude changes due to gas jet propulsion, leading to image blurring and defocusing, and require frequent gas cartridge replacements, making long-term use difficult.
Innovation Solution
A mobile image pickup device equipped with an imaging unit, acceleration and angular velocity detecting unit, reaction wheels, and fans, which use command values calculated by a processing unit to stabilize the device's position and attitude, allowing for continuous operation without gas cartridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If gas jet propulsion is used to move the mobile device in microgravity environment, then the device can move freely, but the position and attitude vary intermittently causing image blurring and defocusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces reaction wheels as an intermediary device between the gas jet propulsion system and the imaging unit. The reaction wheels continuously adjust the device's attitude to compensate for intermittent position and attitude variations caused by gas jet propulsion, thereby preventing image blurring and defocusing while maintaining movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where acceleration and angular velocity sensors continuously monitor the device's motion state, the processing unit calculates command values based on this information, and the reaction wheels adjust the attitude in real-time to maintain stable image pickup
2Speed
If gas cartridge is used as propellant, then the device can move in microgravity environment, but frequent replacement is necessary making long-term use difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs reaction wheels that can operate continuously without consumable propellants. The reaction wheels use electrical power to generate torque for attitude control, eliminating the need for frequent gas cartridge replacements and enabling long-term operational duration while maintaining movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the gas jet propulsion system (which requires consumable gas cartridges) with an electrically-driven reaction wheel system. This substitution eliminates the need for frequent propellant refilling or cartridge replacement, significantly extending the operational duration of the mobile device
3Reliability
If reaction wheel is added to control attitude, then image stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the reaction wheel system to serve multiple functions: it controls the device's attitude for stable image pickup, compensates for motion-induced vibrations, and works synergistically with the gas jet propulsion system. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive performance improvements
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
The device acquires stable image data and operates over a long term by controlling its movement and attitude using reaction wheels and fans, preventing image blurring and eliminating the need for gas cartridge replacements.
Implementation Method 1
a reaction wheel that rotates based on a command value which is calculated by the processing unit
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of fans that operate based on the command value and generate thrust for the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile image pickup device includes an imaging unit (20), an acceleration and angular velocity detecting unit, a processing unit that processes acceleration and angular velocity information which is detected by the acceleration and angular velocity detecting unit, a reaction wheel that rotates based on a command value which is calculated by the processing unit, and a housing (10) that accommodates the imaging unit (20), the acceleration and angular velocity detecting unit, the processing unit, and the reaction wheel therein.