UAV Rescue Device Handover for Remote Aerial Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rescue operations from difficult-to-access areas, such as steep mountains or tall buildings, are challenging due to limitations in conventional aerial rescue methods, where small helicopters can only carry a few people and multiple flights are necessary for group rescues, and conventional methods often pose hazards like strong winds and turbulence.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to transport a rescue device, such as a rope or ladder, from an aerial vehicle to a person in need, with dual connections allowing safe handover and attachment, enabling efficient and safe delivery of the rescue device, even in hard-to-reach locations, and allowing larger aerial vehicles to operate from a distance, reducing the number of trips and hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a small helicopter is used for rescue operations, then the helicopter can access difficult-to-reach areas, but the carrying capacity is limited to one or more passengers only
Solution Approach 1:
The rescue device is divided into multiple segments: a main body portion remaining with the aerial vehicle and an end portion transported by the UAV. This segmentation allows the system to deliver rescue equipment to multiple locations without requiring the entire helicopter to relocate, thereby increasing carrying capacity while maintaining access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A UAV is introduced as an intermediary vehicle to transport the end portion of the rescue device from the aerial vehicle to the person in need. This intermediary solves the contradiction by separating the heavy lifting function (performed by the main aerial vehicle) from the precise delivery function (performed by the lightweight UAV), enabling both high carrying capacity and access to difficult-to-reach areas.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple helicopter flights are conducted to rescue a group of people, then all persons can be rescued, but the operation time and number of trips increase
Solution Approach 1:
The end portion of the rescue device is pre-attached to the UAV, which is then launched from the aerial vehicle to deliver the rescue equipment to the first person. This preliminary preparation allows subsequent persons to be rescued more efficiently without requiring the helicopter to return to the base for each additional rescue, reducing operation time while increasing the number of persons rescued.
3Ease of operation
If the aerial vehicle approaches closely to deliver the rescue device, then the handover is direct, but wind turbulence and hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV serves as an intermediary that delivers the end portion of the rescue device to the person in need without requiring the main aerial vehicle to approach closely. This intermediary approach maintains simple handover (the person grabs the end portion delivered by the UAV) while eliminating the harmful effects of wind turbulence that would result from close proximity to the large aerial vehicle.
4Reliability
If a dual connection system is used for the rescue device, then safety during handover is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into two distinct connections: a first connection between the UAV and the end portion of the rescue device, and a second connection between the aerial vehicle and the main body portion. This segmentation allows each connection to be optimized for its specific function (UAV-to-end-portion for delivery, aerial-vehicle-to-main-body for secure anchoring), improving safety while managing complexity through functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transporting a rescue device from an aerial vehicle to a person to be rescued includes launching an unmanned aerial vehicle from the aerial vehicle having an end portion releasable attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a first connection and a second connection. The method further includes enabling the person to be rescued to reach the end portion of the rescue device. and determining whether the end portion of the rescue device is released from the first connection. If the rescue device is released determining at the unmanned aerial vehicle whether the person to be rescued is safely attached to the rescue device. If so, the method comprises either releasing the rescue device from the second connection, or deactivating the unmanned aerial vehicle such that the unmanned aerial vehicle remains attached to the rescue device via the second connection.