UAV Energy Dispersion Plug for Crash Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in minimizing property damage and ensuring safety during crash landings due to the potential for hollow structural members to pierce the ground, causing further damage upon impact.
Innovation Solution
The integration of energy dispersion plugs into the open ends of hollow structural members, which feature a blunt head section and a wedge section designed to shatter the structural members upon impact, distributing the energy away from the impact site and incorporating a rim to catch shards and prevent further penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hollow structural members are used in UAV construction, then structural strength and weight efficiency are improved, but the risk of ground penetration and property damage during crash landings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the 'Blessing in disguise' principle by converting the harmful piercing action of hollow structural members during crash landings into a beneficial energy dispersion mechanism. The energy dispersion plug includes a wedge section that intentionally causes the hollow structural member to shatter upon impact, transforming the concentrated piercing force into dispersed fracture energy that protects surrounding property while maintaining the structural advantages of hollow members during normal operation
2Stability of the object's composition
If hollow structural members are designed to be rigid and strong, then structural integrity during flight is improved, but the ability to dissipate impact energy safely during crash landings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the 'Segmentation' principle by dividing the hollow structural member into separate functional sections: an intact main body that maintains structural integrity during flight, and a controlled fracture zone created by the energy dispersion plug that segments the structure upon impact. This allows the member to remain stable during normal operation while safely dissipating energy through controlled fragmentation during crash landings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the 'Preliminary action' principle by pre-installing the energy dispersion plug into the hollow structural member before flight. The plug is positioned in advance within the member, with its wedge section oriented to facilitate controlled shattering upon impact. This preliminary preparation ensures that when crash landing occurs, the energy dissipation mechanism is already in place and requires no additional activation
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 effectively reduces property damage and enhances safety by distributing impact energy into the destruction of the structural members, preventing them from penetrating the ground and causing additional harm.
Implementation Method 1
a wedge section (215) extending from the inner side (235) towards a distal end (245) opposite the blunt head section
Implementation Method 2
designed to shatter the structural members upon impact, distributing the energy away from the impact site
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a rim to catch shards and prevent further penetration
Data Source
AI summary
An energy dispersion plug for use in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a blunt head section, a wedge section, and a rim section. The blunt head section has an outer side for receiving an impact force and an inner side opposite the outer side. The wedge section has a base end and a distal end opposite the base end. The wedge section extends at the base end from the inner side of the blunt head section towards the distal end and the distal end has a smaller cross-sectional area than the base end. The wedge section is shaped and sized to fit into an open end of a hollow structural member of the UAV and to transfer impact energy incident upon the blunt head section into the hollow structural member to shatter the hollow structural member into fragments.