Tethered Parent-Child UAV Control for Rail-Guided Stable Flight
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack effective safety measures to prevent crashes and maintain stable flight when anomalies occur, particularly when flying along rails or in complex environments.
Innovation Solution
The UAV system includes a parent UAV connected to a child UAV via a coupling line, with the parent UAV monitoring the tension and controlling the child UAV's flight to prevent crashes by stopping forward movement or hovering when anomalies are detected, and using a control circuit to regulate motor rotation rates and wing angles for stable rail travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the UAV reduces motor rotation rate below minimum floating rate when connected to rail, then energy consumption is reduced, but the UAV cannot maintain floatation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rail system as an intermediary support structure. The connector couples the UAV to the rail, transferring part of the support function from the motors to the rail. This allows the motors to operate at reduced power while the rail provides mechanical support, resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and floatation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts motor rotation rates based on flight conditions. When connected to the rail, the control circuit reduces motor speed below the minimum floating rate, utilizing the rail for support. When disconnected or in anomaly conditions, motors increase speed to maintain floatation, providing adaptive response to changing operational requirements.
2Productivity
If the UAV increases the angle of the imaginary plane containing rotary wings relative to support direction, then propulsion efficiency along the rail is improved, but stability in other directions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by orienting the rotary wings at a specific angle (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the support direction when connected to the rail. This localized angular adjustment optimizes propulsion efficiency in the rail direction while the control circuit compensates for stability in other directions through differential motor control, achieving direction-specific optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the imaginary plane containing the rotary wings based on operational mode. When connected to the rail, the angle is adjusted to optimize linear propulsion; when disconnected or during anomaly response, the angle returns to standard configuration for balanced stability, allowing parameter adaptation to operational requirements.
3Reliability
If the parent UAV monitors tension and controls child UAV to stop forward movement when anomalies detected, then safety is improved, but productivity is reduced due to flight interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the parent UAV continuously monitors coupling line tension and communicates anomaly information to the child UAV. When tension anomalies are detected, the system automatically adjusts flight parameters or halts forward movement, providing real-time safety monitoring that responds dynamically to changing conditions while minimizing unnecessary interruptions.
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
This configuration enhances safety by preventing crashes and maintaining stable flight, allowing UAVs to navigate rails and complex environments with higher spatial accuracy and reducing the risk of collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of rotary wings; a plurality of first motors that rotate the plurality of rotary wings, respectively
Implementation Method 2
a rotation rate that is lower than a minimum rotation rate necessary for causing the unmanned aerial vehicle to float and that is higher than a minimum rotation rate necessary for propelling the unmanned aerial vehicle
Implementation Method 3
a main body that supports the plurality of first motors; a connector that is to be connected to a rail, with the main body hanging from the connector
Data Source
AI summary
A system for delivering a package is provided. The system includes a first drone that includes a housing, a second drone that includes a plurality of wings, a wire connecting the first drone and the second drone, and a wire control module that is configured to let out and take up the wire. The second drone is configured to be at least partially housed in a bottom of the housing of the first drone as the wire control module takes up the wire. The second drone is further configured to adjust an orientation of the second drone to align with a predetermined direction via an operation of the plurality of wings.