Retractable UAV Arms for Compact Storage and Stable Freight Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles face challenges in space efficiency for storing multiple airframes, freight loading and unloading efficiency, and maintaining stability during freight transport, especially when carrying heavy loads.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a retractable propeller system with a freight chamber integrated into the airframe, allowing propellers and arms to be stored within the chamber, enhancing space efficiency, stability, and enabling efficient loading and unloading through an upper opening, while maintaining a high center of gravity for better balance and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple airframes are stored in a compact space, then space efficiency is improved, but the complexity of storing and deploying retractable propellers and arms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by storing the arms and propellers inside the freight chamber when not in use. The arms can be retracted into the chamber body, and the propellers can be stored within the arms or chamber, creating a compact nested configuration that significantly reduces the storage footprint of the airframe while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
2Ease of operation
If the center of gravity is kept at a high position for better balance, then ease of operation is improved, but stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing ballast weights specifically at the lower portion of the airframe to counterbalance the high center of gravity created by the upper-positioned freight chamber. This localized addition of weight at the bottom maintains overall stability while preserving the operational advantages of a high center of gravity for balance and control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the freight chamber is made spacious to carry various freight, then adaptability is improved, but the volume of the airframe increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the arm lengths adjustable, allowing the airframe to adapt its configuration based on the size and distribution of the freight being carried. The arms can be extended or retracted to optimize the position of the propellers relative to the freight chamber, enabling the same airframe volume to accommodate different freight sizes and types effectively.
4Area of stationary object
If the arms and propellers are made retractable for compact storage, then space efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by storing the arms and propellers inside the freight chamber when not in use. The arms can be retracted into the chamber body, and the propellers can be stored within the arms or chamber, creating a compact nested configuration that significantly reduces the storage footprint of the airframe while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a plurality of propellers and an airframe. The airframe includes a body having a hollow portion, and a plurality of through holes connected to the hollow portion and formed on an outer peripheral surface of the body. The airframe also includes a plurality of arms supporting the plurality of propellers, and each arm of the plurality of arms includes a base end portion disposed at a body side in a longitudinal direction of the respective arm. The base end portion is inserted in a corresponding through hole of the plurality of through holes and supported by the body. Each arm of the plurality of arms is configured to be stored in the hollow portion of the body by being retracted into the body via the through hole, and expanded out of the body by being pulled out of the body via the through hole.