UAV Release Mechanism With Inverted Cradle And Movable Door
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current payload designs for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are limited in their ability to release significantly-sized items due to solid construction, which negatively affects flight performance and requires permanent cutouts in the airframe, restricting mission duration and range, and small UAVs are limited by battery power and require manual transportation and launch.
Innovation Solution
An inverted cradle construction with a fiberglass bay cover and modular clips allows for overhead mounting of payloads, enabling the release of smaller UAVs from larger ones with minimal flight performance degradation, using a bolt-on payload system that includes a baseplate, mounting rails, and a door mechanism for controlled ejection, along with an electronic control stack for post-ejection control and data link communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If solid construction is used for payload bay, then structural strength is improved, but flight performance deteriorates and permanent cutouts are required
Solution Approach 1:
The payload bay door transitions from a static solid construction to a dynamic movable structure. The door can open and close to allow UAV deployment while maintaining aerodynamic integrity during flight, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and flight performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid payload bay is segmented into a movable door section and a fixed section. This allows the door to be opened for UAV release while the rest of the airframe remains intact, eliminating the need for permanent cutouts and preserving flight performance.
2Length of moving object
If smaller UAVs are deployed from larger UAVs, then delivery range is improved, but battery power limitations and manual launch requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The smaller UAV is equipped with its own propulsion system and control capabilities, allowing it to self-launch and operate independently after deployment. This eliminates the need for manual transportation and launch operations, resolving the contradiction between extended delivery range and ease of operation.
3Productivity
If overhead mounting configuration is used, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead mounting structure integrates the payload bay door, support struts, and UAV deployment mechanism into a unified design. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining aerodynamic performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to releasing smaller unmanned aerial vehicles from larger unmanned aerial vehicles. Apparatus and system embodiments are disclosed for physically retaining and ejecting the smaller unmanned aerial vehicles, including the communication networks associated with the command and control of both the smaller unmanned aerial vehicles and the larger unmanned aerial vehicles.