Tethered UAV Landing Alignment on Moving Platforms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned tethered, powered aircraft are difficult to control and land safely due to forces from the tether and un-aerodynamic nature of multi-rotor aircraft, especially when the landing platform is in motion or under high winds.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for aligning an aircraft with a moving landing platform using GPS sensors and orientation sensors to calculate and adjust the orientation of the aircraft or platform to reduce orientation offset, and a system for securing the aircraft with retractable landing lock elements and disconnecting the tether using a solenoid actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS sensors and orientation sensors are used to calculate and adjust orientation, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (GPS sensors and orientation sensors) into an integrated sensing system that works together to calculate and adjust the orientation of the aircraft relative to the landing platform. This merging of sensor functions enables precise alignment measurements while managing system complexity through unified control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures orientation using sensors, calculates the orientation offset between aircraft and landing platform, and adjusts the aircraft orientation based on this feedback. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains high alignment precision by constantly monitoring and correcting orientation deviations.
2Reliability
If landing lock elements are extended through apertures to secure aircraft, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The landing lock elements are designed to be automatically actuated by the controller based on detected aircraft position, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system self-regulates the locking mechanism by monitoring aircraft landing status and automatically extending or retracting the lock elements, thereby maintaining high reliability while simplifying operation.
3Ease of operation
If disconnect actuator is used to sever tether connection, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The disconnect actuator is designed as a separate, dedicated component specifically for severing the tether connection when needed. By extracting this disconnection function into a specialized actuator with a disconnect bracket, the system achieves easy operation for tether release while maintaining reliable connections during normal operation through the robust connector design.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of aligning an aircraft with a landing platform in motion comprises measuring a GPS heading with at least one GPS sensor positioned at a known location relative to the landing platform while the landing platform is in motion, measuring an orientation of the aircraft with an orientation sensor fixed relative to the aircraft, calculating an orientation of the landing platform from the GPS heading, calculating an orientation offset between the measured orientation of the aircraft and the calculated orientation of the landing platform, and changing an orientation of the aircraft or the landing platform to reduce the orientation offset. A system for landing and securing an aircraft in an enclosure, a system for disconnecting a tether from an aircraft, and a system for landing an aircraft in an enclosure are also described.