Self-Righting Flying Toy with Asymmetric Battery and Louvers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flying toys are difficult to control and cannot self-right or stabilize when thrown or catapulted into the air, leading to damage and inefficient use in targeting systems.
Innovation Solution
A self-righting flying toy design featuring a battery at the rounded bottom, propeller blades with louvers below, and a ceiling guard to stabilize and prevent damage, allowing the toy to automatically orient itself upright upon impact or in mid-air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flier is designed without self-righting features, then the structure is simpler, but the flier cannot stabilize itself after falling or being thrown, leading to damage and loss of functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The flier employs asymmetric design in two key areas: (1) The battery is positioned at the bottom of the flier body, creating an asymmetric weight distribution that generates a self-righting moment when the flier is tilted; (2) The louvers have rounded bottoms at their lower ends, creating asymmetric contact points with the launching surface that facilitate automatic righting. These asymmetric features enable the flier to automatically return to its proper orientation without complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The flier implements self-service through passive self-righting mechanisms that require no external intervention or complex control systems. The asymmetric weight distribution and rounded louver bottoms work together to automatically right the flier after it falls or is thrown, enabling the flier to stabilize itself and become ready for reuse without manual intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flier is thrown or catapulted into the air without auto-stabilization, then the launching method is more versatile, but the flier will crash and be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of the battery at the bottom and the rounded bottoms of the louvers create a self-righting mechanism that works regardless of how the flier is launched. This allows the flier to be thrown or catapulted at various angles and still automatically right itself during flight, maintaining stability and preventing crashes.
3Productivity
If the flier lands on its side without self-righting capability, then no additional components are needed, but the flier cannot be reused without manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The battery positioned at the bottom and the rounded louver bottoms create an asymmetric configuration that automatically rights the flier when it lands on its side. The asymmetric weight distribution generates a restoring moment that rotates the flier back to its upright position, enabling immediate reuse without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-righting mechanism allows the flier to service itself by automatically returning to its proper orientation after landing on its side. This passive self-correction mechanism eliminates the need for manual retrieval and repositioning, significantly improving productivity and reusability.
4Power
If the propeller creates strong vacuum suction, then the propulsion force is stronger, but the flier may stick to the ceiling and become uncontrollable
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling guard extracts or removes the harmful effect of excessive vacuum suction that would cause the flier to stick to the ceiling. By providing a physical barrier between the propeller and the ceiling, the guard allows the propeller to maintain its high power output while preventing the vacuum from creating unwanted adhesion forces.
5Strength
If the flier has no protective features, then the structure is simpler, but the flier is prone to damage from impacts with surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling guard provides beforehand cushioning by creating a physical barrier that prevents direct impact between the propeller and the ceiling. This protective feature is built into the design from the beginning, preventing damage before it can occur during ceiling contact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enables the flying toy to stabilize and right itself upon landing or in mid-air, reducing damage and improving control, enabling its use in catapulting systems and preventing ceiling entrapment.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom location of the battery and the louvers provide the self-righting of the flier
Implementation Method 2
The louvers include rounded projections extending down the bottom most corners
Implementation Method 3
The louvers are located below propellers and direct air downward to help keep the flier vertical, as well as stabilize its motion
Implementation Method 4
The ceiling guard may be 'U' shaped made from rubber, foam, cloth, etc.
Implementation Method 5
propeller blades
Data Source
AI summary
A self-righting flier includes a battery residing at a rounded bottom of a flier body, propellor blades and louvers below the propellor blades. The louvers include rounded projections extending down of bottom most corners. The bottom location of the battery and the louvers provide the self-righting of the flier. The flier further includes a top most guard preventing or reducing damage from ceiling impacts.