Weight-Sensitive UAV Landing Pad for Overload Flight Halt

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Solution Overview

Problem

The expansion of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) usage is hindered by public safety concerns and the lack of practical solutions for delivering articles to users unfamiliar with UAVs, with existing proposals not adequately addressing accessibility and charging needs.

Innovation Solution

A UAV system with controlled access zones, a flight management system, and communication units for secure and automated UAV landing, loading, and charging, including medical supply delivery, with remotely operable locks and automatic charging cables, ensuring safe and efficient operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If controlled access zones with barriers and locks are implemented for UAV landing and take-off, then public safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepublic safetyVSAvoidaccess control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the facility into multiple controlled access zones (landing zones, take-off zones, charging zones, storage zones), each with its own barrier and access control. This segmentation allows safety to be improved by isolating different UAV operations while managing complexity through modular zone management rather than a single complex system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flight management system pre-approves access requests and schedules UAV operations before they occur. By handling access control in advance through automated approval processes and pre-scheduled operations, the system improves safety through controlled access while reducing the complexity of real-time manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automated charging cables and flight management systems are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUAV charging and operationVSAvoidautomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables UAVs to automatically connect to charging cables and manage their own charging processes without manual intervention. The flight management system automatically monitors battery levels, schedules charging sessions, and manages power distribution. This self-service approach improves ease of operation while distributing complexity across automated systems rather than requiring complex manual control interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The flight management system serves multiple functions including access control, flight scheduling, battery monitoring, charging management, and medical supply tracking. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent improves ease of operation through centralized control while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple controlled access zones are created for different UAV operations, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUAV operation safetyVSAvoidaccess time to zones

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors UAV positions, operational status, and zone conditions, providing real-time feedback to the flight management system. This feedback mechanism allows for dynamic adjustment of access control and operational scheduling, ensuring safety while minimizing delays by proactively managing zone access based on current system state rather than reactive control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If barriers and closures are installed around UAV zones, then public safety is improved, but ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepublic safetyVSAvoidaccess to UAV zones

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical access control with automated electronic control through the flight management system. Instead of requiring physical keys or manual barrier operation, the system uses electronic authorization, remote lock control, and automated barrier operation. This substitution maintains safety through controlled access while dramatically improving ease of operation through contactless, automated entry procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11526178B2Location for unmanned aerial vehicle landing and taking off

Publication Date: 2022.12.13 VOLATUS AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

A UAV location management method for use with a flight management system is provided, where the method comprises providing a location for at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for at least one of: landing, taking-off and loading, providing at least a first weight-sensitive UAV pad at the UAV location, assigning a gross weight limit to each UAV scheduled to take-off from the first weight-sensitive UAV pad, the gross weight limit being based on a safety factor and at least one of: (i) a characteristic of the UAV; (ii) a characteristic of a power source of the UAV; (iii) a scheduled flight path for the UAV; and (iv) a weather condition, monitoring a weight exerted on the first weight-sensitive UAV pad when the UAV is positioned on the UAV pad, and transmitting a halt-flight signal to the flight management system for the UAV where the weight exceeds the gross weight limit.