Collapsible UAV Chemical Container for Longer Flight Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chemical containers for UAVs are heavy, difficult to fill, and hazardous, which reduces UAV flight time and increases operational risks.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, collapsible storage container made of flexible material that is easily mountable to UAVs, eliminating the need for venting and simplifying handling, and can be reusable or disposable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid chemical containers are used for UAVs, then structural strength is improved, but weight increases and flight duration decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer strengthVSAvoidUAV flight duration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible chemical containers made from lightweight materials such as flexible polymers or laminated films instead of traditional rigid containers. This flexible shell structure maintains sufficient strength to contain and protect chemical products while dramatically reducing weight, thereby extending UAV flight duration without compromising container integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If rigid chemical containers are used for UAVs, then structural stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer stabilityVSAvoidUAV energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible container design using lightweight polymer or laminated film structures reduces the overall weight of the chemical delivery system. This weight reduction directly decreases the energy required for UAV flight and operation, while the flexible materials maintain adequate structural stability for containing and delivering chemical products.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If traditional chemical containers are used, then chemical containment is improved, but handling difficulty and hazard increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical containmentVSAvoidcontainer handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible chemical containers are designed with lightweight, compliant structures that are easier to manipulate, attach, and remove from UAVs compared to rigid containers. The flexibility allows for simpler handling operations while maintaining effective chemical containment through the integrity of the flexible barrier materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent describes disposable flexible chemical containers that can be easily attached to and removed from UAVs. These single-use containers eliminate the need for complex cleaning and refilling operations, significantly simplifying handling procedures and reducing operator exposure risks while maintaining reliable chemical containment during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4013223B1Material delivery systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 FMC CORP

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AI summary

Described herein is an aerial material deli very system, which includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a body, and a material dispensing system mounted to the UAV, The delivery system also includes a collapsible storage container releasably mountable to the UAV. The storage container contains a flowable chemical product and includes at least one coupler adapted to couple the storage container to the material dispensing system of the UAV and allow the flowab!e chemical product to be dispensed therethrough.