Removable Rotor Arm Assemblies with Protective Shrouds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hovering aerial vehicles lack protection for their rotor arms, making them vulnerable to damage from hidden obstacles during flight, which is costly to replace.

Innovation Solution

A hovering aerial vehicle design featuring removable rotor arm assemblies with protective shrouds that provide protection from collisions and easy replacement or storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rotor arms are rigidly mounted at fixed distances from the center, then structural stability is improved, but vulnerability to collision damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcollision damage vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor arm assembly is divided into separable components: the central pod and the rotor arm can be detached from each other. This segmentation allows the rotor arm to be removed and replaced independently, reducing vulnerability to collision damage while maintaining structural stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor arm assembly transitions from a fixed rigid mounting to a dynamic removable configuration. The rotor arm can be attached or detached from the central pod based on operational needs, allowing the system to adapt between structural stability during flight and ease of replacement after collision damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of repair

If rotor arms are made removable for easy replacement, then ease of repair is improved, but structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of rotor arm replacementVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor arm assembly is segmented into the central pod and detachable rotor arm components. This allows the rotor arm to be easily removed and replaced for repair or maintenance while maintaining structural stability during operation through proper connection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection mechanism between the rotor arm and central pod is designed in advance to facilitate easy attachment and detachment. This preliminary design of the connection interface enables quick replacement of rotor arms without compromising structural stability when properly connected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protective shrouds are added around rotor arm assemblies, then protection from collision damage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective shroud is merged with the rotor arm assembly as an integrated component. This combining of protection with the functional element provides collision protection without requiring separate complex protection systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8322648B2Hovering aerial vehicle with removable rotor arm assemblies

Publication Date: 2012.12.04 AERYON LABS

AI summary

The invention provides a hovering aerial vehicle with removable rotor arms and protective shrouds. Removing the shrouds reduces the weight of the vehicle and increases flight time. Removing the rotor arms makes the vehicle easier to transport. Removable rotor arms also simplify field repair or replacement of damaged parts.