UAV Truss Hollow Interior Fuel Storage Heavy Lift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently transporting and lifting large or heavy components, such as wind turbine blades, due to limitations in crane lift capacity, transportation infrastructure, and high rental costs of large cranes.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a truss structure and combustion engine modules, each equipped with a helicopter blade propulsion system, is designed to lift and transport heavy loads. The truss includes a hollow interior for fuel storage, and a control system allows for user control of the UAV.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional cranes are used to lift heavy components, then lift capacity is sufficient, but transportation infrastructure must be modified and rental costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional ground-based mechanical crane systems with an aerial vehicle system that operates in three-dimensional space. The aerial vehicle uses rotor blades for vertical lift and thrust, eliminating the need for ground-based crane masts and complex infrastructure modifications while providing equivalent or superior lift capacity for heavy wind turbine components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional ground-based crane operations to three-dimensional aerial operations. By operating in the vertical dimension and utilizing hover capability, the aerial vehicle can access locations without requiring ground infrastructure modifications, roads, or bridges, thereby solving the contradiction between lift capacity and infrastructure complexity.
2Force
If large, masted cranes are used, then lift capacity is sufficient, but rental costs and travel time are substantial
Solution Approach 1:
The aerial vehicle employs dynamic, modular engine modules that can be selectively activated based on payload requirements. The system can quickly reconfigure by engaging or disengaging engine modules, allowing rapid adaptation to different lifting tasks and reducing idle time between jobs, thereby minimizing rental period and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerial vehicle is designed as a multi-functional platform capable of performing various lifting, transporting, and installation tasks across different locations and conditions. This universality eliminates the need for specialized equipment rentals for each specific task, reducing overall rental time and costs while maintaining sufficient lift capacity.
3Force
If heavy lift aircraft are used, then load capacity increases, but aircraft are limited to about 23,000 lbs
Solution Approach 1:
The aerial vehicle system is divided into multiple independent engine modules, each capable of providing a portion of the total lift capacity. By segmenting the propulsion system, the vehicle can scale its total load capacity by activating multiple modules in parallel, effectively overcoming the 23,000 lbs limitation of single-rotor aircraft while maintaining the adaptability to operate with fewer modules for lighter loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple engine modules with individual rotor blades into a single integrated aerial vehicle system. The merging of multiple power sources and propulsion elements creates a unified system with cumulative lift capacity that exceeds conventional single-engine aircraft, while retaining the versatility to operate in different configurations based on mission requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The UAV can efficiently lift and transport heavy loads over long distances, expanding the capacity for servicing wind turbines and other large infrastructure projects, while reducing the need for costly crane rentals and infrastructure modifications.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of combustion engine modules, each combustion engine module including a respective helicopter blade propulsion system
Implementation Method 2
each truss including a hollow interior portion configured to hold a fuel for at least one of the plurality of combustion engine modules
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV includes a plurality of combustion engine modules, each combustion engine module including a respective helicopter blade propulsion system. A truss connects and separates adjacent pairs of the combustion engine modules of the plurality of combustion engine modules. Each truss includes a hollow interior portion configured to hold a fuel for at least one of the plurality of combustion engine modules. The UAV also includes a control system configured to allow a user to control the plurality of combustion engine modules and corresponding helicopter blade propulsion systems.