Robotic Arm Drone Catching Mechanism for Maritime Rescue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rescue systems for people who fall overboard from boats lack automatic means for securely releasing and catching drones, especially in bad weather and sea conditions, leading to difficulties in locating and rescuing individuals due to manual operation and potential drone collisions with the boat.
Innovation Solution
A robotic device with a retractable arm and catching/releasing mechanism, including a distal diaphragm and proximal claw, automatically extends to release and catch a drone, ensuring secure operation even on a moving boat deck, using a drone equipped with thermal cameras to locate individuals in the water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual release and catch operations are used, then the system is simpler, but the operation time increases and safety decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system operates autonomously to release and catch the drone without requiring manual intervention. The system self-activates upon detecting a person overboard, extends the robotic arm to release the drone, and automatically positions to catch the returning drone, eliminating the need for crew members to manually handle the drone throughout the entire operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic mechanical system. The robotic arm with its extension and retraction capabilities substitutes human hands and arms, while the automated control system replaces human decision-making and coordination, transforming a manually-operated mechanical process into an automated one.
2Speed
If the boat moves away from the original position, then the boat can continue its mission, but locating the person becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates the robotic arm and drone release mechanism in advance before the boat needs to move away. The drone is released at the optimal moment when the person's location is still relatively close, allowing the drone to establish position over the person before the boat continues its mission, thus preserving both mission continuity and rescue capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone serves as an intermediary between the moving boat and the person in the water. While the boat continues moving at mission speed, the drone acts as a stationary marker above the person, transmitting location information back to the boat and providing visual reference, thus decoupling the boat's movement from the need to maintain position over the person.
3Productivity
If the drone is released manually, then the release process is simpler, but valuable time is lost and injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system performs the release and catch operations autonomously without requiring crew members to physically handle the drone. The system self-activates, extends to release the drone, tracks the drone's flight, and automatically positions to catch it upon return, eliminating all manual intervention steps that consume time and expose crew to injury risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm acts as an intermediary between the crew and the drone, allowing the crew to operate the system remotely without direct physical contact with the drone. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for crew members to manually grab, hold, or position the drone, thereby removing the associated time losses and injury risks while maintaining full operational control.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~3b
Figure 4a~4d
AI summary
Robotic device (1) for catching and releasing drones, comprising a robotic arm (2) and a catching/releasing means (3), where the catching/releasing means (3) comprise: a diaphragm (31) alternating between an open position where a size of an opening of said diaphragm (31) is substantially larger than a size of an enlarged end portion (112) of an elongated grasp body (11) protruding downwards from the drone (10), and a closed position where said size is smaller than the size of said enlarged end portion (112); and a proximal claw (32) provided behind, and aligned with, the distal diaphragm (31), where the claw (32) is configured for alternating between an open position where a size of a cavity of said claw (32) is larger than the size of the enlarged end portion (112), and a closed position where the claw (32) clamps the enlarged end portion (112) if present within the cavity.