Tiltable Wingtip Mechanism to Prevent UAV Motor Cable Twisting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tiltable unmanned aerial vehicles face issues with cables being wound around rotating shafts of tilting motors, leading to potential damage and separation during tilting motions.

Innovation Solution

A tiltable wing design featuring a driving mechanism with a sliding chute and sliding pin that allows the wingtip to rotate relative to the wing body, ensuring the cable passes through the rotating shaft without being wound or folded, thus preventing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fixed wings are used on unmanned aerial vehicles, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different flight conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different flight conditionsVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the wing structure movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The wing can be tilted about a transverse axis to change its angle of attack, allowing the UAV to adapt to different flight conditions such as takeoff, cruise, and landing. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through a single degree of freedom mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If tilting mechanism is added to wings, then adaptability to different flight conditions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different flight conditionsVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the wing into multiple parts: a fixed portion attached to the fuselage and a movable portion that can tilt relative to the fixed portion. This segmentation allows the tilting mechanism to be localized to specific sections of the wing rather than requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire structure, thus improving adaptability while controlling the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If movable wing structure is implemented, then flight maneuverability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight maneuverabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a movable wing structure with a tilting mechanism that allows the wing to rotate about a transverse axis. This dynamic structure improves flight maneuverability by enabling active control of the angle of attack. The manufacturing complexity is managed by using a hinge-based mechanism with standardized components, allowing modular assembly and simplifying the manufacturing process despite the added mobility requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 design prevents cable entanglement and separation, enhancing the reliability and stability of the tilting mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

A motor is mounted in the fuselage for tilting the wing about a transverse axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Implementation Method 2

A tiltable wing and unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, a propeller, and a tiltable main wing mounted to the fuselage... the tilt wing aircraft is capable of vertical takeoff and landing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerodynamic lift: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentEP4316982B1Tiltable wing and unmanned aerial vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 AUTEL ROBOTICS CO LTD
  • EP4316982B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4316982B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4316982B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular to a tiltable wing and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The tiltable wing includes a wing body, a wingtip, a power device, a cable, a rotating shaft and a driving mechanism. The power device is mounted on the wingtip; one end of the cable is connected to the power device, the rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the wing body and the wingtip, respectively, a through hole is disposed in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and the other end of the cable passes through the through hole and extends to the inside of the wing body; the driving mechanism is used for driving the wingtip to rotate with the rotating shaft as an axis; and the power device is switchable between a first preset position and a second preset position relative to the wing body, so that the power device is switched between a horizontal state and a vertical state.