Transformable UAV With Folding Arms For Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face a trade-off between portability and flight performance due to structural constraints, particularly with larger propellers increasing the size of the main body, which can lead to a less concentrated center of gravity and higher air resistance, deteriorating flight performance.
Innovation Solution
A transformable UAV design featuring a housing with a first and second structure that can slide and fold, allowing the propulsion systems, including folding arms and propellers, to be accommodated within the body in a compact state, enabling efficient storage and deployment, thereby optimizing both portability and flight performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the propeller size is increased to improve flight performance, then the thrust and flight capability are improved, but the main body size increases and the center of gravity becomes less concentrated, deteriorating flight performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the arm structure movable and transformable. The arm can be extended to support larger propellers for improved flight performance, and retracted or folded to minimize main body size when not in use. This dynamic transformation allows the UAV to optimize between propeller size and main body compactness based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the main body into a fixed housing and a movable arm structure. The arm is separated from the main housing and can be independently transformed between extended and retracted states. This segmentation allows the propeller-supporting arm to be optimized separately from the main body, enabling larger propellers without permanently increasing main body volume.
2Length of moving object
If the main body size is increased to accommodate larger propellers, then the propeller size can be increased, but the center of gravity is not concentrated and air resistance is increased, deteriorating flight performance
Solution Approach 1:
The arm structure is designed to be dynamically transformable between extended and retracted states. When extended, it supports larger propellers for improved thrust. When retracted, it minimizes the overall size and reduces air resistance during flight, allowing the UAV to optimize aerodynamic performance based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and position parameters of the arm structure. By transforming the arm between extended and retracted positions, the patent dynamically adjusts the effective propeller size and main body dimensions, optimizing the balance between thrust generation and air resistance reduction.
3Power
If the arm size is increased to support larger propellers, then the flight performance is improved, but the portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The arm structure is designed with dynamic transformation capability, allowing it to be extended for flight operations and retracted for portable storage. This enables the UAV to achieve both large propeller support for improved flight performance and compact form factor for enhanced portability, depending on the operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm structure can be folded or nested into the main housing when not in use, similar to a nested doll configuration. This allows the UAV to maintain a compact portable size while still being capable of extending the arm to support larger propellers when flight performance is required.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle is provided. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a housing with a first housing structure and a second housing structure, a wireless communication circuit coupled to the housing or located inside the housing for wireless communication with an external controller, a plurality of propulsions systems coupled to the housing, and a navigation circuit configured to control the plurality of propulsion systems. At least one of the plurality of propulsion systems includes a plurality of folding arms pivotally coupled to one of the first housing structure and the second housing structure, a motor controlled by the navigation circuit, and a propeller coupled to the motor. The housing has at least one recess to accommodate at least part of the plurality of propulsion systems in the second state.