UAV Docking Battery With Magnetic Coupling and Pogo Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dock assemblies for UAVs are often large, complex, heavy, and cumbersome, making them difficult to position and reposition within structures, and require complex wiring for charging, which complicates their use in automated docking and storage applications.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, less complex dock assembly with a battery system that includes a magnetically coupling enclosure, light emitting diodes for status indication, and compressible conducting contacts for pogo pin engagement, allowing for secure docking, charging, and autonomous operation of UAVs, while facilitating easy repositioning and simplified design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dock assemblies are used for UAV docking and charging, then reliable electrical connection and charging function are achieved, but the system becomes large, heavy, and difficult to reposition
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is divided into separate functional modules: power modules (battery cells) arranged within an enclosure, conducting contacts for electrical connection, and light emitting diodes for status indication. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while reducing overall system complexity and weight compared to conventional integrated dock assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical wiring systems with compressible conducting contacts that engage with pogo pins through elastic deformation. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for bulky conventional wiring harnesses and complex electrical connections, significantly reducing the weight and complexity of the dock assembly while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
2Reliability
If conventional dock assemblies are used for UAV docking, then charging function is provided, but the assembly becomes mechanically complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential charging function from the complex conventional dock assembly, isolating only the necessary components: power modules for energy storage, conducting contacts for electrical connection, and light emitting diodes for status indication. By removing unnecessary mechanical complexity while retaining the core charging function, the system becomes simpler and more cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery enclosure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the power modules, provides structural support, enables magnetic coupling to the UAV, and houses the conducting contacts and light emitting diodes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and assemblies, thereby reducing mechanical complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If conventional dock assemblies are used for automated docking, then docking function is achieved, but the system is difficult to move once positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs magnetic coupling between the battery enclosure and the UAV to create a balanced docking system. The magnetic force provides sufficient holding strength for reliable docking while allowing the lightweight enclosure to be easily repositioned when needed, solving the contradiction between docking reliability and repositioning ease.
4Device complexity
If compressible conducting contacts are used for pogo pin engagement, then simplified electrical connection is achieved, but contact reliability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The conducting contacts are designed to be compressible rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adapt to minor misalignments and wear during engagement with pogo pins. This dynamic compliance ensures reliable electrical connection while maintaining simplicity in the connection mechanism.
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 provides a secure, efficient, and easily movable dock assembly that supports autonomous UAV docking and charging, reducing the complexity and weight of conventional systems while maintaining functionality, enabling flexible placement and use in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
The upper portion is configured to magnetically couple to the underside of the unmanned aerial vehicle
Implementation Method 2
The one or more light emitting diodes are disposed on the enclosure and configured to visually indicate a status of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the battery, or both
Implementation Method 3
The one or more conducting contacts are disposed on the lower portion of the enclosure and configured to compressibly engage one or more pogo pins of the docking station to charge the one or more power modules
Data Source
AI summary
A battery configured to power an unmanned aerial vehicle. The battery includes an enclosure configured to house a power module of the battery. The battery also includes one or more conducting contacts located on the enclosure configured to contact one or more pogo pins of a battery charger located on a docking station of the unmanned aerial vehicle.