Suspended UAV Power Source Layout for Longer Flight Endurance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UAVs face challenges in extending flight endurance due to the need to continuously produce lift, which increases power requirements, especially in multi-rotor UAVs, and adding onboard energy sources like batteries or fuel can decrease flight endurance by increasing total system weight.

Innovation Solution

A suspended propulsion system is implemented, where a power source is coupled to the UAV via a harness to suspend at least a portion under the center of gravity, decoupling the inertia of the propulsion system from the UAV's inertia, thereby reducing the power required to maintain attitude and increasing flight endurance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If onboard energy sources (batteries or fuel) are increased to extend flight endurance, then flight time is improved, but total system weight increases which decreases flight endurance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight enduranceVSAvoidtotal system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power source is extracted from the UAV body and suspended externally beneath the UAV using a harness or cable. This separation allows the UAV to carry additional energy capacity without increasing the weight of the airframe itself, directly resolving the contradiction between extending flight endurance and maintaining manageable system weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If multi-rotor configuration is used to provide continuous lift, then vertical takeoff and landing capability is improved, but power requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical takeoff and landing capabilityVSAvoidpower requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting the power source from the UAV body and suspending it externally, the system reduces the power required for attitude control and stabilization. The suspended power source does not contribute to the moment of inertia of the UAV, requiring less power for rotational control while maintaining the multi-rotor's vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If power source is rigidly attached to UAV body, then structural simplicity is improved, but inertia coupling increases power requirements for attitude control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidpower for attitude control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

A harness or cable acts as an intermediary between the UAV body and the suspended power source. This intermediary connection allows the power source to be carried externally while being decoupled from the UAV's rotational inertia, reducing the power required for attitude control while maintaining a relatively simple structural implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12552560B2Unmanned aerial vehicle suspended propulsion systems and methods

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 AERYON LABS

AI summary

Systems and methods directed to suspended propulsion systems for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided. A system may include a UAV having a body and a center of gravity (CG), and a suspended propulsion system coupled to the UAV. The suspended propulsion system may include a power source for the UAV, and a harness coupled to the UAV to suspend at least a portion of the power source under the CG of the UAV. The harness may be a rigid or flexible harness configured to decouple an inertia of the suspended propulsion system from an inertia of the UAV. Additional systems and related methods are also provided.