UAV Payload Receptacle Pickup With Autonomous Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face delays and inefficiencies when arriving late to retrieval sites or when personnel is not present to secure payloads, leading to waiting times and energy expenditure as they hover or wait on the ground.
Innovation Solution
A UAV system equipped with guiding features on its underside to automatically retrieve payloads by lowering over them and securing them into a payload receptacle using a payload coupling apparatus, or by landing on a payload loading apparatus and pushing the payload upward for engagement with the coupling apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a person manually secures the payload to the UAV, then the payload can be reliably attached, but the process requires human presence and causes delays when the UAV arrives late or the person is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV performs payload attachment autonomously without human intervention. The guiding features automatically align and guide the payload into the receptacle, and the coupling apparatus automatically engages to secure the payload, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring external human assistance
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding features and coupling apparatus are pre-configured on the UAV before arrival. The coupling apparatus is positioned and ready to engage, and the guiding features are structured to automatically align with the payload, so that upon arrival the attachment process can immediately begin without waiting for human preparation
2Reliability
If the UAV hovers or waits on the ground for the designated person to arrive, then the payload can be secured, but the UAV consumes excessive energy during waiting
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous attachment system allows the UAV to independently complete the payload retrieval operation upon arrival, eliminating the need to hover or wait for human personnel. The system performs all attachment functions automatically, ensuring retrieval reliability without continuous energy-consuming waiting
Solution Approach 2:
The manual human operation of securing the payload is replaced by an automated mechanical system consisting of guiding features and a coupling apparatus. This mechanical automation eliminates the need for human presence while maintaining reliable attachment, allowing the UAV to avoid energy-intensive hovering waits
3Device complexity
If manual payload securing is used, then simple equipment is needed, but the process lacks automation and causes delays in subsequent delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV autonomously performs the entire payload attachment process without human intervention. The system self-aligns using guiding features and self-secures using the automatic coupling apparatus, transforming a manually-dependent process into an automated high-speed operation that improves retrieval productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling apparatus and guiding features are pre-positioned and pre-configured on the UAV before arrival at the retrieval site. This preliminary preparation enables immediate automated engagement upon contact with the payload, eliminating the time delays associated with manual securing operations
Data Source
AI summary
A payload retrieval system including a UAV having a payload receptacle positioned within the UAV, a payload coupling apparatus positioned within the payload receptacle, a tether having a first end secured within the UAV and a second end attached to the payload coupling apparatus, and a payload guiding member positioned on an underside of the UAV for guiding at least part of a payload into the payload receptacle during retrieval of a payload.