Vehicle-Mounted Tethered UAV Deployment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aerial systems for first responders lack efficient power transmission and data communication methods, which hinder their deployment, flight control, and data collection capabilities, especially in dynamic and secure environments.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial system comprising a base station and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connected by a retractable tether that transmits power and data, featuring a spool, motor, tensioning device, and friction brake, enabling secure and sustained flight with camera and sensor control, and secure data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retractable tether with spool and motor is used to connect base station and UAV, then power transmission and data communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is wound and stored on a spool mechanism, with the spool itself stored within the base station housing. This nesting approach allows the tether to be compactly stored while maintaining full extendability for power and data transmission, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool acts as an intermediary mechanism between the motor and the tether, converting rotational motion into linear tether deployment. This intermediary component enables reliable tether management while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through modular design.
2Reliability
If a tensioning device and friction brake are added to the tether system, then UAV flight control and retrieval safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction brake is designed to automatically engage when the motor stops, providing self-service braking functionality without requiring additional complex control systems. This maintains UAV retrieval safety while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioning device incorporates sensors that provide feedback to the control system about tether tension levels. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of tension to maintain safe UAV retrieval while preventing over-tensioning, resolving the contradiction between safety and complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are disposed circumferentially on the UAV, then surveillance coverage and data collection capability is improved, but weight of the UAV increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each camera in the circumferential array is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing visual data, detecting motion, and providing directional information. This multi-functionality allows comprehensive surveillance coverage with fewer camera units, reducing overall weight while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cameras are arranged in a vertical circumferential pattern rather than a horizontal plane, utilizing the vertical dimension to achieve 360-degree coverage. This dimensional approach provides comprehensive surveillance with minimal camera count, resolving the contradiction between coverage and weight.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the base station is mounted on a vehicle for mobile deployment, then operational versatility and response capability is improved, but stability of the base station decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station incorporates active stabilization systems that dynamically adjust mounting position and orientation in real-time to compensate for vehicle motion. This dynamic adaptation maintains operational stability while preserving mobile deployment versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system uses counterbalancing mechanisms that generate opposing forces to neutralize vehicle vibrations and movements. This counterweight approach stabilizes the base station during mobile operations without sacrificing deployment flexibility.
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 system provides reliable power and data transmission, enabling sustained flight and secure data collection, while ensuring the UAV's safe deployment, flight control, and retrieval, enhancing operational efficiency and security for first responders.
Implementation Method 1
The tether extends between the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism, and is configured to transmit power to the UAV
Implementation Method 2
The first coupling mechanism further comprises one or more of a spool, a motor, a tensioning device, and a friction brake
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle subsystem includes a vehicle-mountable light bar. The light bar includes a periphery and a plurality of lights configured to illuminate through at least a portion of the periphery. The light bar further defines a volume within which is positioned an unmanned aerial vehicle pad and a tether extension and retraction mechanism. The subsystem further includes an unmanned aerial vehicle having at least one camera. A tether is operable with the tether extension and retraction mechanism and extendable from the tether extension and retraction mechanism to the unmanned aerial vehicle. The tether is configured to, during flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle, transmit power to the unmanned aerial vehicle and transmit data signals to and from the unmanned aerial vehicle.