Rotatable Ring And Cable Locking For Drone Landing On Moving Decks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drones landing on moving or adverse weather conditions, such as a ship deck, require a quick and reliable locking mechanism to prevent detachment and enable efficient takeoff.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with rotatable rings and cables that automatically transition between unlocking and locking positions, using actuating means to secure the drone to a support surface by rotating rings to enclose it with throttling cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is used to secure the drone to the support surface, then the drone can be reliably fixed during landing, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into separate functional modules: a body fixed to the support surface, rotatable rings that can independently move, and cables that connect the rings. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving reliable locking while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The rings are nested within the body of the locking device, with the cables passing through the rings. This nested arrangement allows the locking mechanism to be compact and integrated, reducing the overall device complexity while maintaining reliable locking functionality through the coordinated movement of nested components
2Productivity
If the locking operation is made quick and automatic, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to automatic actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The rings are designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment between locked and unlocked positions. This dynamic mechanism enables quick transitions between states without requiring complex actuation systems, as the rings can rotate freely under cable tension to achieve automatic locking and unlocking
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates automatically through the natural movement of the rings and cables. When the drone lands, the cables tighten and the rings rotate to lock the drone in place without external intervention. For takeoff, the rings can be manually or automatically rotated to release the cables, enabling self-service operation that improves productivity without significantly increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A locking device for an aircraft is described, comprising a body adapted to be fixed to a support surface, a first ring and a second ring rotatable the one with respect to the other with respect to a rotation axis between a first angular position and a second angular position. The first and second ring enclose an area for the landing of the aircraft and are contained within the body. The locking device also comprises a plurality of cables, which connect the first ring to the second ring. The locking device is positionable in an unlocking position, wherein the first and second ring are in the first angular position, the cables are spaced from said area; or in a locking position, wherein the first and second ring are in the second angular position and the cables occupy a region of the area, so as to cooperate in contact with the aircraft to constrain it with respect to the support surface.