UAV Landing Control With Leveled Inboard Propellers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in maintaining lateral control during landing due to the risk of inboard propellers striking the ground, which can cause damage and hinder safe landing procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes microcontrollers communicating with engines to halt the rotation of inboard propellers when the UAV is at a certain altitude, maintaining them in an attitude that provides ground clearance, while tip propellers continue to rotate for control and propulsion, ensuring the inboard propellers do not contact the ground during landing and take-off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inboard propellers are allowed to rotate during landing, then propulsion and control are maintained, but the propeller blades may strike the ground causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the propellers into two distinct groups: inboard propellers and outboard (tip) propellers. The inboard propellers are halted and leveled to prevent ground contact, while the outboard propellers continue rotating to maintain lateral control. This segmentation allows different parts of the same system to perform different functions during landing, resolving the contradiction between preventing propeller damage and maintaining control capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If inboard propellers are halted to prevent ground contact, then propeller damage is avoided, but lateral control during landing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different operational states to different parts of the propeller system. The inboard propellers are halted and leveled to eliminate ground contact risk, while the outboard propellers maintain rotation to preserve lateral control authority. This local differentiation in operational quality allows the system to avoid harmful ground contact while maintaining necessary control capabilities through the outboard propellers.
3Reliability
If inboard propellers are leveled to provide ground clearance, then ground contact is prevented, but propulsion efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by halting and leveling the inboard propellers before ground contact occurs during landing. This preventive measure ensures ground clearance is established in advance, avoiding the harmful effects of propeller-ground contact. The outboard propellers continue to provide necessary propulsion and control, maintaining overall system effectiveness while preventing damage.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); one or more inner wing panels of the UAV; one or more outer wing panels of the UAV; at least one inboard propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more inner wing panels; at least one tip propeller attached to at least one engine disposed on the one or more outer wing panels; at least one microcontroller configured to: determine an angular position of the at least one inboard propeller; and send a signal to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground upon landing.