UAV Liquid Volume Transfer System for Accurate Infusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face inefficiencies in plant-protection operations due to residual pesticide liquids in their tanks, affecting accuracy and operation efficiency, as existing systems lack effective methods for precise liquid volume management.

Innovation Solution

A liquid volume transfer system comprising a liquid infusion device, a liquid container, and an UAV, equipped with communication modules and controllers, which communicate to determine and manage the remaining liquid volume, ensuring accurate infusion and spraying operations by calculating and correcting liquid volumes based on flow rates and weights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UAV uses its own battery capacity for plant-protection spraying operations, then the UAV can perform autonomous spraying, but the limited battery capacity causes residual pesticide liquid to remain in the tank, affecting infusion accuracy and reducing operation efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoidinfusion accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a liquid infusion device as an intermediary system that connects to the UAV's liquid container via a communication module. This external infusion device monitors the remaining liquid volume through the communication module and automatically infuses additional liquid when the volume falls below a threshold, thereby maintaining infusion accuracy without being constrained by the UAV's battery capacity alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the infusion device continuously obtains remaining liquid volume data from the communication module in the liquid container. Based on this feedback information, the infusion device calculates the target infused liquid volume and automatically controls the infusion process to maintain accurate liquid levels, resolving the accuracy issue caused by limited autonomous operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the UAV performs continuous spraying operations, then productivity increases, but residual liquid volume management becomes inaccurate, leading to wasted time and reduced efficiency in subsequent operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespraying operation efficiencyVSAvoidtime for liquid volume management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid container's communication module autonomously monitors and reports remaining liquid volume without requiring external intervention. The infusion device automatically processes this information and performs infusion operations when needed, enabling the system to self-manage liquid volume and eliminate time-consuming manual monitoring and intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring liquid volume and automatically initiating infusion operations before the liquid is completely depleted. This proactive approach ensures that the liquid container is always ready for the next spraying operation, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3445659B1Liquid volume transfer system
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 GUANGZHOU XAIRCRAFT TECH CO LTD
  • EP3445659B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3445659B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3445659B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a liquid volume transfer system, a liquid infusion device, an unmanned aerial vehicle, and a liquid container. The liquid volume transfer system includes: a liquid infusion device, including a first communication module, a first controller and a first flow rate detecting module; a liquid container, including a second communication module; and an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a third communication module, a third controller and a second flow rate detecting module. The first controller obtains a remaining liquid volume value from the second communication module through the first communication module, and determines a target infused liquid volume value based on the remaining liquid volume value and a total infused liquid volume value; after the completion of infusion, the total infused liquid volume value is sent to the second communication module through the first communication module; the third controller obtains the total infused liquid volume value from the second communication module through the third communication module, and sends the remaining liquid volume value to the second communication module through the third communication module after the completion of spraying. The liquid volume transfer system according to the present disclosure may realize automatic and accurate liquid infusion, thereby improving the operation efficiency.