Spheroidal Sensor Support Structure for Multi-Rotor Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-rotor aircraft sensor support structures fail to provide a complete spherical field of view without obstructing the aircraft's rotors and do not adequately address vibration issues, limiting their operational capabilities in capturing unobstructed and stable visual data.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight open framework with multiple hubs and curved struts supports cameras or sensors, utilizing a multi-directional tension shock mount to position the center of mass near the aircraft's center of mass, ensuring the rotors are outside the sensors' view and providing a vibrationally dampened spherical field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If sensors are mounted on the aircraft body, then the structure is simple, but the rotors obstruct the field of view and vibrations are not dampened
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor support structure is segmented from the aircraft body through a separate framework mounted on tension shock mounts. This segmentation allows the sensor array to be positioned independently, creating a spherical field of view that excludes rotors while maintaining structural connection to the aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
Tension shock mounts serve as intermediary elements between the sensor framework and aircraft body. These mounts dampen vibrations transmitted from the aircraft to the sensors while maintaining the structural connection, thus eliminating vibration issues without requiring direct mounting on the aircraft.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a complete spherical field of view is achieved, then unobstructed visual capture is obtained, but the aircraft structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor support structure is designed as a spherical framework with sensors positioned at various points on the sphere. This spherical geometry naturally provides a complete 360-degree field of view in all directions, ensuring that no portion of the aircraft including rotors is visible to any sensor while maintaining structural efficiency.
3Reliability
If vibration damping is implemented, then stable visual data is obtained, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Tension shock mounts function as intermediary vibration-damping elements between the sensor framework and aircraft body. These mounts use elastic deformation to absorb and dampen vibrations from aircraft operation, providing stable visual data without requiring complex active vibration cancellation systems or direct rigid mounting.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the center of mass is adjusted to the aircraft center, then flight stability is improved, but the support structure requires additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates adjustable mounting positions on the tension shock mounts, allowing the center of mass of the sensor array to be dynamically repositioned. This dynamic adjustability enables precise alignment with the aircraft's center of mass for optimal flight stability while maintaining the ability to reconfigure for different operational requirements.
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
Enables unobstructed and stable spherical visual capture, facilitating applications like VR, 3D scanning, and operational safety by ensuring the aircraft's rotors are not visible to the sensors, while maintaining a vibration-free environment for accurate data collection.
Implementation Method 1
The tensioned elastic members provide tension force between the framework and attachment members placed upon the structure of a multi rotor aircraft
Implementation Method 2
a sensor-supporting structure may be attached to the airframe of a multi-rotor aircraft in such a manner that it is vibrationally dampened by a multi-directional tension shock mount arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A spheroidal framework having sensors is mounted to a multi-rotor aircraft with elastic members and adjustable aircraft mounts whereby transmission of vibration from the aircraft to the framework is dampened and whereby the framework's position relative to the aircraft's center of gravity may be changed by selectively tensioning the elastic members and by adjusting the position of the aircraft mounts.