UAV Flexible Conveyor for Flight-Stable Agricultural Material Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned aerial vehicles face challenges in smoothly supplying liquid agents such as herbicides or insecticides, and fuels from a supply station due to weight and power constraints.
Innovation Solution
The unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with a tank for agricultural materials and a conveyor with elasticity and/or flexibility, allowing for the smooth transfer of these agents from a supply station while maintaining flight stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid conveyor structure is used to transport agricultural materials, then structural strength is improved, but flexibility and adaptability during flight deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible conveyor structure made of elastic materials that can bend and deform during flight operations. This flexible conveyor maintains sufficient strength to transport agricultural materials while adapting its shape to accommodate flight dynamics, preventing structural failure during takeoff, landing, and maneuvering phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to change its physical state from a rigid transport configuration to a flexible configuration during flight. The elastic properties enable the conveyor to absorb mechanical stresses and adapt to varying operational conditions without compromising material transport capability.
2Quantity of substance
If the tank capacity is increased to carry more agricultural materials, then payload capacity is improved, but flight duration and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the agricultural materials storage into multiple tanks or compartments, allowing selective filling and transport of different materials. This segmentation enables optimization of payload weight distribution and allows the UAV to carry sufficient materials for extended operations without excessive weight that would compromise flight duration and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of tank capacity utilization by changing operational parameters such as material density, tank filling levels, and transport schedules. This enables optimization of the payload-to-weight ratio to maximize flight duration while maintaining sufficient agricultural materials capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conveyor is made more flexible to accommodate flight movements, then adaptability during flight is improved, but structural strength and material transport reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the conveyor system, combining elastic materials with reinforcement elements. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for flight operations and the strength required for reliable material transport, ensuring that the conveyor can withstand mechanical stresses while maintaining structural integrity throughout the flight cycle.
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 configuration enables efficient and stable supply of liquid agents and fuels, enhancing payload capacity and flight duration, enabling expanded agricultural applications.
Implementation Method 1
the conveyor has elasticity and/or flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a plurality of rotors, a main body supporting the plurality of rotors, a tank that accommodates agricultural materials, and a conveyor provided on the tank to transport the agricultural materials toward the tank. The conveyor has elasticity and/or flexibility.