UAV Noise Reduction via Active Cancellation and Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned air vehicles generate significant noise due to propeller rotation, limiting their application in quiet environments and increasing energy consumption due to increased weight, which affects their flight duration and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The unmanned air vehicle incorporates generators, structural components with through-holes, microphones, and speakers to actively cancel noise by generating opposite-phase sounds, reducing weight and noise propagation while maintaining flight efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a duct is added to surround the propeller and steering wing, then the influence of crosswind on the airframe is reduced, but the weight of the unmanned aircraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the duct component from the aircraft structure, extracting the harmful weight addition while retaining the essential functionality through alternative means (steering wing design and propeller configuration) that do not require the enclosing duct structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the functions of crosswind protection into distinct components (steering wing and propeller arrangement) rather than using a single enclosing duct structure, allowing each component to contribute to crosswind resistance without the penalty of a complete surrounding duct
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the propeller is enclosed in a duct, then noise propagation is reduced, but the weight of the aircraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the noise control function from the heavy duct structure and implements it through the steering wing and propeller configuration, eliminating the need for weight-added enclosing structures while maintaining noise reduction capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wing acts as an intermediary element that provides both aerodynamic control and noise mitigation functions, serving as a mediator between the propeller and external environment without requiring a complete enclosing duct
3Strength
If a duct is added to the aircraft structure, then structural support is improved, but the energy consumption during flight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the unnecessary duct structure that added weight and energy consumption, retaining only the essential structural components needed for support, thereby reducing the energy burden during flight operations
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wing serves multiple functions including structural support, aerodynamic control, and noise mitigation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated structural ducts that would add unnecessary weight and energy consumption
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 effectively reduces noise and weight, enabling the unmanned air vehicle to operate more quietly and sustain flight for longer periods without increased energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
one or more speakers respectively located apart in the second direction of the air flow from the one or more generators and configured to output a sound according to a corresponding one of the one or more second signals
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned air vehicle includes a generator that generates a flying force and also generates an air flow, a structural component, a microphone that outputs a first signal, a speaker, and a processor. The processor generates a second signal according to the first signal. The structural component surrounds a noise source of the generator, and includes a through-hole extending in a direction of the air flow. The through-hole is in a direction opposite to the direction of the air flow. An end, in the opposite direction, of the structural component corresponds to an end, in the opposite direction, of the noise source of the generator. An end, in the direction of the air flow, of the structural component extends, in the direction of the air flow, beyond an end, in the direction of the air flow, of the noise source of the generator.