UAV Tether Guide for Safe Payload Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload loading systems lack efficiency and safety, particularly in accessing and interacting with UAVs for delivery services, as they require precise alignment and orientation, which can be challenging and risky for users.
Innovation Solution
A payload loading system comprising a retractable tether and a landing platform with a tether guide that directs the tether to a target location, allowing the payload to be loaded or unloaded without the need for precise UAV alignment, enhancing accessibility and safety by maintaining a buffer distance between the UAV and users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the UAV requires precise alignment and orientation for payload loading, then the loading accuracy is improved, but the operation complexity and safety risk increase for users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a landing platform with a tether guide as an intermediary device between the UAV and the payload loading system. The tether guide directs the tether to a target location on the platform, allowing the payload to be loaded without requiring the UAV to achieve precise alignment and orientation. This mediator absorbs the alignment requirements, simplifying the user's operation while maintaining loading accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If the UAV requires precise alignment and orientation for payload loading, then the loading accuracy is improved, but the safety risk increases for users
Solution Approach 1:
The landing platform with tether guide serves as a safety intermediary, positioned between the UAV and the user. It allows the tether to be directed to a target location without requiring the UAV to be in a precise position or orientation close to the user, thereby maintaining loading accuracy while reducing the safety risk to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the landing platform as an additional spatial dimension for payload transfer. Instead of requiring precise three-dimensional alignment between the UAV and the payload, the system projects the alignment requirement onto the two-dimensional plane of the landing platform, where the tether guide can direct the tether to the target location more easily, thus reducing safety risks.
3Device complexity
If the tether is directly managed without a guide, then the system complexity is reduced, but the payload coupling apparatus cannot reliably reach the target location
Solution Approach 1:
The tether guide on the landing platform acts as a simple intermediary structure that passively directs the tether to the target location. It does not require complex active control systems, sensors, or actuators, thus adding minimal complexity to the system while ensuring that the payload coupling apparatus reliably reaches the correct position.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.