UAV Carrier Release Detection and Motor Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a UAV carrier system that can transport Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to their mission area while conserving their energy, and for the UAVs to autonomously recognize their release from the carrier to initiate their missions, as existing systems face limitations in energy and flight time.
Innovation Solution
A UAV carrier system equipped with a first controller to release UAVs and a second controller within each UAV to activate its motors upon fulfillment of specific conditions, such as reaching terminal velocity, altitude, or distance from the carrier, using sensors like accelerometers, altimeters, and distance sensors, allowing the UAVs to navigate and perform tasks independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If UAVs fly independently from origin to mission area, then they can complete their mission autonomously, but their energy consumption increases and flight time is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The journey is divided into two segments: carrier-based transport to the vicinity of the mission area, followed by autonomous flight for the final approach and task execution. This segmentation allows the UAV to conserve energy during the long-distance travel while maintaining autonomous capability for the critical mission phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier performs the preliminary action of transporting the UAV to the vicinity of the mission area before the UAV activates its motors. This preliminary transport reduces the distance the UAV must fly independently, thereby conserving its limited energy reserves for the actual mission execution.
2Speed
If UAVs activate motors immediately upon release, then they can quickly navigate to target, but they consume energy during the release transition phase when not yet independent
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is designed to detach the UAV from the carrier before motor activation. This preliminary separation ensures that the UAV does not consume motor power during the transition phase, allowing it to glide or be passively transported for a short distance before initiating powered flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor activation is timed periodically after release rather than immediately. This delayed activation creates an optimal sequence: release first, then after a brief interval when the UAV is already separated from the carrier, activate the motors to begin powered navigation to the target.
3Duration of action of moving object
If UAVs carry enough energy for full independent flight, then they can complete long missions autonomously, but their weight increases and carrier capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The total flight distance is segmented into a carrier-transferred portion and an autonomous flight portion. The UAV is designed with energy capacity optimized for the autonomous portion only, while the carrier handles the longer-distance transport, thus reducing the UAV's weight requirements without compromising mission duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier acts as an intermediary that provides the majority of the transportation function. By offloading the long-distance transport role to the carrier, the UAV can be designed with lighter energy reserves sufficient only for the final approach and mission execution, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining adequate mission flight time.
4Measurement precision
If UAVs use sensors to detect release conditions, then they can accurately recognize release moment, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV employs a multi-functional sensor system where a single integrated sensor suite serves multiple purposes: detecting release conditions, navigating to the target, and monitoring environmental parameters during the mission. This universal sensor approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate specialized sensors for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to automatically detect release conditions and trigger the appropriate response sequence without requiring external intervention or complex processing. The sensors self-service by providing direct feedback to the control system, enabling autonomous recognition of the release moment and initiation of the navigation protocol.
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 solution enables efficient transportation of UAVs to their mission area, conserving their energy and allowing them to autonomously recognize and respond to their release, thereby initiating their tasks effectively without unnecessary power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
readings of the accelerometer indicate that the UAV reaches terminal velocity
Implementation Method 2
after the release of the respective UAV and before the activation of the at least one motor
Implementation Method 3
readings of the altimeter indicate that the UAV reached a given altitude
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprising: one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); and a UAV carrier configured to carry the UAVs from an origin to a destination; wherein the UAV carrier comprises a first controller configured to release the UAVs from the UAV carrier; and wherein each of the UAVs comprises: one or more motors configured to generate, directly or indirectly, a lift, lifting the UAV; and a second controller, configured to: activate at least one of the motors upon fulfilment of one or more conditions, thereby generating the lift, wherein after the release of the respective UAV and before the activation of the at least one motor of the respective UAV the motors of the respective UAV are inactive.