UAV Reel Control for Wind-Stable Suspended Payload Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

An article suspended by a wire from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is agitated by wind, making it difficult to place the article in a designated position during delivery.

Innovation Solution

A control device and method that reduce the effect of wind on the article by controlling the feeding of a linear member from the UAV, using sensors and actuators to adjust the feeding amount and position of the article based on wind conditions, ensuring it is dropped within a target range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual control is used during automatic return-to-start, then the operator can intervene to avoid collisions, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidance capabilityVSAvoidcontrol operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automatic control system as an intermediary between the operator and the drone. The automatic return-to-start function with one-key emergency stop capability acts as a mediator that handles collision avoidance automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining safety. This resolves the contradiction by providing automatic protection without requiring complex manual operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The drone is equipped with automatic return-to-start functionality that enables it to autonomously navigate back to the starting point and perform emergency stops when collisions are detected. This self-service capability allows the drone to handle its own safety without external intervention, simplifying the control operation while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If automatic return-to-start is implemented, then collision avoidance is automated, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol operation simplicityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated automatic return-to-start system. The one-key emergency stop, automatic navigation, and collision detection capabilities are combined into one unified control mechanism. This consolidation simplifies the user interface and operation while the underlying system handles the complexity internally, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of moving object

If the drone structure is made compact, then it can fit in a hand, but the battery capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrone sizeVSAvoidbattery operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter optimization in the battery selection process, choosing a 14.8V 4000mAh battery that provides sufficient operation time while maintaining a compact form factor. The system also optimizes power consumption parameters through efficient motor selection and control algorithms, enabling the drone to achieve 8-10 minutes of flight time despite its small size. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing multiple parameters simultaneously rather than prioritizing only size or battery capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4349710B1Control device, unmanned aerial vehicle, and control method
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP4349710B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4349710B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4349710B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a mooring member capable of mooring an article; a linear member connected to the mooring member; a reel around which the linear member is wound. The unmanned aerial vehicle acquires information relating to wind strength around the article when the article is to be lowered from the unmanned aerial vehicle by controlling the reel; and controls the reel so as to provide a feeding amount of the linear member in dependence on the wind strength, on the basis of the acquired information.