Rotating Payload Coupling for In-Flight UAV Handoffs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current payload engagement systems for vehicles, such as UAVs, require human intervention for coupling and uncoupling payloads, leading to downtime and inefficiencies, especially when interacting with untrained users, as they often necessitate the UAV to land and power off between delivery runs.
Innovation Solution
A payload engagement system that includes a vehicle-supported portion and a payload-mounted portion with an insert component and a receptor component, allowing for secure coupling and uncoupling of payloads while the vehicle remains in flight through rotational and translational transitions between disengaged and engaged configurations, utilizing multiple insert arms and receptor units for stability and securement mechanisms to maintain engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human interaction is required to couple and uncouple payloads, then safety of human users is ensured, but downtime between delivery runs increases and delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The payload engagement system performs coupling and uncoupling operations autonomously without human intervention. The insert component automatically engages with the receptor component through rotational and translational transitions, enabling the system to service itself and eliminating the need for human operators during payload changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical coupling operations with an automated mechanical system. The engagement system uses controlled rotational and translational movements of the insert component relative to the receptor component to achieve secure coupling, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with automated actuation mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the UAV lands and powers off to couple or uncouple payloads, then secure engagement is achieved, but delivery turnaround time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement system employs dynamic rotational and translational transitions of the insert component relative to the receptor component. These controlled movements enable secure payload engagement while the UAV remains in flight, eliminating the need for landing and power-off procedures between deliveries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operational capability by enabling payload coupling and uncoupling during flight operations. The UAV can perform multiple delivery runs without interruption for landing, maintaining continuous useful action and maximizing delivery turnaround efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple insert arms and receptor units are used for stable engagement, then payload security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement system is divided into distinct modular components: multiple insert arms on the vehicle-supported portion and corresponding receptor units on the payload-mounted portion. Each insert arm can independently engage with its corresponding receptor unit, providing segmented but coordinated payload securement.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert arms and receptor units are designed as universal components that can engage multiple payloads of different types and weights. The same basic engagement mechanism serves multiple functions: securing payloads during flight, enabling rapid payload changes, and maintaining system stability across various operational conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Payload engagement systems, vehicles including the same, and related methods. A payload engagement system (100) includes a vehicle supported portion (102) and a payload mounted portion (104), one of which includes an insert component (110), and the other of which includes a receptor component (150). The payload engagement system (100) is configured to transition between a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration via rotation of the insert component (110) with respect to the receptor component (150). In the engaged configuration, the receptor component (150) receives the insert component (110) such that the insert component (110) is rotationally constrained within the receptor component (150). A method (200) of transporting a payload (50) with a vehicle (10) includes engaging (210) the payload (50) with a payload engagement system (100) that includes a vehicle supported portion (102) and a payload mounted portion (104), transporting (230) the payload with the vehicle, and disengaging (250) the payload. Each of the engaging and the disengaging includes rotating (214) the vehicle supported portion (102) with respect to the payload mounted portion (104).