Vehicle-Mounted UAV Charging Platform for Rugged Terrain Landing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in remote areas with limited flight duration due to the lack of reliable landing and charging facilities, especially in rugged terrains where traditional charging solutions are inconvenient and pose risks to the UAVs.

Innovation Solution

An onboard charging device with a platform mounted on a vehicle provides a flat landing site and a charging module that can charge the UAV wirelessly or through a plug connection, featuring a power storage module, solar panels for energy, and a driving mechanism for platform unfolding and storage, ensuring safe and efficient charging without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UAV lands on the ground in remote areas, then the UAV can be charged, but the rugged terrain causes damage risk and charging inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging reliabilityVSAvoidterrain influence
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vehicle-mounted platform as an intermediary between the UAV and the ground. The platform provides a stable, flat landing surface that isolates the UAV from harmful terrain factors such as rugged ground, uneven surfaces, and potential damage risks. The platform acts as a mediator that enables safe landing and charging operations in remote areas without requiring the UAV to directly contact the ground.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle-mounted platform serves multiple functions: it provides a stable landing surface, houses charging equipment, and enables the UAV to operate in remote areas regardless of ground conditions. By integrating the charging function directly onto the vehicle platform, the system becomes universally applicable to various terrains and eliminates the need for ground-based charging infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a stationary charging station is used, then the UAV can be charged, but the lack of reliable landing place brings inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging convenienceVSAvoidlanding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the landing function and charging function into a single integrated vehicle-mounted platform. Instead of having separate landing areas and charging stations, the platform combines both functions, allowing the UAV to land and charge simultaneously at the same location. This integration eliminates the inconvenience of searching for separate landing and charging locations in remote areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The charging system transitions from a stationary ground-based station to a mobile vehicle-mounted platform. The platform can move to different locations, providing dynamic charging capability that adapts to the UAV's operational needs in remote areas. This mobility eliminates the limitation of fixed charging locations and improves both convenience and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Extent of automation

If manual charging operation is required, then the charging process can be controlled, but the charging process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging automationVSAvoidcharging process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic charging functionality where the charging system autonomously detects the UAV's presence, establishes electrical connection, and initiates charging without manual intervention. The platform's charging equipment automatically identifies when the UAV has landed and begins the charging process, reducing operational complexity and saving time while maintaining controlled charging parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 eliminates terrain-related risks, provides a reliable and automatic charging system, extends UAV flight duration, and ensures energy efficiency through solar power, while preventing damage to the UAV during landing and charging.

Implementation Method 1

solar panels for energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolar energy conversion: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3340423B1Onboard charging device for unmanned aerial vehicle and vehicle including the same
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3340423B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3340423B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An onboard charging device and a vehicle including the same are provided for charging an unmanned aerial vehicle. The onboard charging device includes a platform (10) configured to be mounted on top of a vehicle (50), wherein a charging module (30) for charging the unmanned aerial vehicle (20) is arranged on the platform (10). According to the technical solutions of the present disclosure, influence of a factor such as a rugged terrain may be eliminated when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands. Moreover, after landing on the platform, the unmanned aerial vehicle may be directly charged by simple steps through the charging module on the platform.