UAV Swappable Components Shielded Circuit Board

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in efficiently swapping components like wings and battery packs, which complicates maintenance, repair, and rapid redeployment, due to complex mechanical and electrical connections, and the use of lightweight materials that may not adequately support structural loads.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a monolithic metal anchor structure with retention pins for secure and efficient coupling of wings and power modules to the fuselage, utilizing a locking mechanism and conductive deformable materials for electrical and environmental shielding, allowing for quick attachment and detachment while ensuring structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional mechanical and electrical connections are used for component attachment, then structural integrity is maintained, but component swapping complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcomponent swapping complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is divided into separate mechanical retention pins and electrical connectors, allowing independent engagement of structural and electrical functions. The retention pins provide mechanical attachment while electrical connectors handle power and data transmission, enabling simplified component swapping where mechanical attachment can be achieved independently of electrical connection complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retention pins are pre-configured in the fuselage anchor structure, allowing wings and power modules to be quickly attached by simply engaging with these pre-positioned pins. This eliminates the need for complex fastening procedures during component swapping, as the mechanical retention infrastructure is already in place before components need to be exchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Weight of moving object

If lightweight materials are used for fuselage construction, then weight is reduced, but structural load-bearing capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuselage weightVSAvoidstructural load-bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fuselage employs composite construction combining lightweight foam core material with metal skin panels and reinforced anchor structures. This composite approach maintains overall lightweight characteristics while providing localized high-strength regions at critical attachment points where wings and power modules connect to the fuselage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The fuselage structure features localized reinforcement at the anchor structure locations where components attach. While the majority of the fuselage uses lightweight foam core construction, the anchor regions incorporate metal framing and strengthened bonding to handle concentrated mechanical loads from wing and power module attachment without compromising overall fuselage weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If complex electrical connectors are used for component coupling, then electrical reliability is improved, but attachment time and operational simplicity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical reliabilityVSAvoidattachment simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Electrical connections are segmented into separate power connectors and data/control connectors, each optimized for its specific function. Power connectors handle high-current transmission with simple mating mechanisms, while data connectors use standardized reliable interfaces. This segmentation allows electrical reconnection to occur independently and simultaneously with mechanical attachment through retention pins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs connector guides and alignment features that act as intermediaries to ensure proper electrical connector engagement. These guiding mechanisms automatically align electrical connectors during the attachment process, eliminating the need for manual alignment procedures and reducing attachment time while maintaining electrical connection reliability through precise positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12024283B2Unmanned aircraft system with swappable components and shielded circuit board

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 ZIPLINE INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A circuit board assembly for association with an aircraft includes a circuit board and an electromagnetic interference component connected to the circuit board. The circuit board assembly may further include an enclosure having an electromagnetic signal permissive layer and an electromagnetic signal blocking layer. The electromagnetic signal permissive layer may include a housing that define a volume. The housing may enclose the electromagnetic interference component on the circuit board. The electromagnetic signal blocking layer defines a conductive barrier about the electromagnetic interference component.