UAV Ground Station Anchoring with Moving Pushers and Auto Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The remote landing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is error-prone and costly, requiring extensive training and posing a high risk of damage, especially in obscured areas or long-range scenarios, which is prohibitive for many companies due to the time and expense involved.
Innovation Solution
A UAV ground station with a landing surface and pushers held by linear actuators, equipped with electro-mechanical connectors for automatic connection and charging, and a landing detection controller to guide the pushers for secure anchoring and charging of the UAV.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual remote control landing is used, then the UAV can be landed, but the operator requires extensive training and the risk of damage is high
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV performs landing autonomously by detecting the ground station and navigating to it automatically, eliminating the need for operator intervention and extensive training while improving landing reliability through consistent automated execution
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical control system is replaced with an automated detection and navigation system that uses sensors to detect the ground station and automatically controls the UAV's movement and landing, reducing human error and training requirements
2Reliability
If manual remote control landing is used, then the UAV can be landed, but the risk of damaging or destroying the UAV is high
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV autonomously executes the landing sequence without human intervention, eliminating operator error and the associated risk of damage while maintaining the ability to successfully complete landings
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential landing errors by using sensor detection to precisely locate the ground station and adjust the approach, cushioning against errors that might otherwise cause damage
3Reliability
If automatic anchoring system is implemented, then the anchoring process is safe and efficient, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground station serves multiple functions: detecting the UAV's approach, guiding it to the correct position, anchoring it securely, and providing charging connectivity, thereby justifying the increased complexity through multiple benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The ground station acts as an intermediary system that facilitates the entire landing and anchoring process, providing a structured environment with detectors and pushers that mediate between the UAV and the ground, improving safety despite added complexity
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 solution enables safe, automatic, and efficient anchoring and charging of UAVs, reducing the risk of damage and training costs, while allowing for autonomous operation and data transfer, thus enhancing operational reliability and reducing project delays.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of pushers held above the landing surface by a plurality of linear actuators
Implementation Method 2
at least one electro-mechanical connector attached to one of the plurality of pushers, mechanically adapted to be electrically connected to a compatible electro-mechanical connector of a UAV
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ground station, comprising: a landing surface having a perimeter and a center; a plurality of pushers held above the landing surface by a plurality of linear actuators; at least one electro-mechanical connector attached to one of the plurality of pushers, mechanically adapted to be electrically connected to a compatible electro-mechanical connector of a UAV; and a landing detection controller adapted to instruct the plurality of linear actuators to move the plurality of pushers simultaneously from the perimeter toward the center when a landing event related to the UAV is detected.