Rotor UAV Automatic Attitude Recovery Using Offset Thrust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotor UAVs often encounter obstacles during flight, leading to undesirable attitudes upon landing, requiring manual re-righting, which is cumbersome and inconvenient for operators.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that automatically control the attitude of a rotor UAV by using offset thrust generating devices to flip the UAV from one attitude to another without manual assistance, utilizing sensors and processors to determine the UAV's state and adjust its attitude based on inclined directions and accelerating speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rotor UAV lands after encountering obstacles, then the flight task is completed, but the UAV often rolls over and requires manual re-righting
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV automatically rights itself after landing by using its thrust generating devices to flip from an overturned attitude to a normal attitude, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The control system detects the overturned state and autonomously executes the recovery maneuver.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV performs the attitude adjustment action in advance by automatically detecting the landing state and initiating the flipping maneuver before manual intervention would be required, ensuring continuous operational readiness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the operator has to go to the position where the rotor UAV is dropped for picking up and re-righting, then the UAV can be reused, but the operation becomes troublesome and experience is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV independently performs the re-righting operation without external assistance. The control system autonomously detects the overturned attitude and commands the thrust generating devices to execute the recovery, making the UAV self-sufficient in maintaining operational readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the operator to manually right the UAV, the system inverts the approach by enabling the UAV to self-right automatically, transforming a manual operation into an autonomous function.
3Extent of automation
If thrust generating devices are used to flip the UAV, then automatic attitude switching is achieved, but additional control complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust generating devices, which are already part of the UAV's standard configuration for flight, are utilized for dual purposes: both flight propulsion and attitude recovery. This eliminates the need for separate recovery mechanisms and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing thrust generating devices serve the additional function of automatic attitude recovery, allowing the UAV to self-correct its attitude using components already present in the system, thereby avoiding added complexity from dedicated recovery hardware.
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
Enables rotor UAVs to automatically recover from undesirable attitudes, such as overturning, to a stable take-off state, improving operational convenience and user experience by eliminating the need for manual re-righting.
Implementation Method 1
starting a first thrust generating device which is offset from a first side of a center of gravity of the rotor UAV, the first thrust generating device generating a thrust that faces away from the support base while working, the first side moving away from the support base
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling an attitude of a rotor UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) includes judging whether the rotor UAV is in a first attitude on a support base; and starting a first thrust generating device which is offset from a first side of a center of gravity of the rotor UAV, the first thrust generating device generating a thrust that faces away from the support base while working, the first side moving away from the support base, flipping the rotor UAV and switching the rotor UAV from the first attitude to a second attitude. Also, a system for controlling the attitude of the rotor UAV is provided. According to the method and the system, the rotor UAV can be switched between different attitudes without artificially assisting in adjusting a current attitude of the rotor UAV, so that the convenience in use and the satisfaction of experience are improved.