UAV Weapon Adapter Recoil Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small, lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are unable to carry and effectively deploy large weapons due to recoil forces exceeding their weight, compromising stability during flight.
Innovation Solution
A weapon adapter system for UAVs, comprising a mounting assembly with recoil absorption and actuation mechanisms, allows for the attachment and remote operation of handheld firearms, including recoil isolation and safety actuation, enabling stable flight despite high recoil forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If small, lightweight UAVs are used to reduce detectability and cost, then the UAV becomes quieter and more difficult to detect, but the UAV cannot carry weapons due to recoil forces exceeding its weight
Solution Approach 1:
A weapon adapter assembly serves as an intermediary device between the small UAV and the handheld firearm. The adapter includes a mounting assembly that attaches to both the UAV and the weapon, and a recoil absorption mechanism that captures and dissipates recoil forces before they reach the UAV, enabling weapons to be mounted on lightweight platforms without compromising flight stability
Solution Approach 2:
The weapon system is segmented into separate functional components: the UAV carries only the lightweight adapter assembly, while the firearm and its recoil mechanism are separate. This segmentation allows the UAV to remain lightweight and undetectable while still having weapon deployment capability through the modular adapter system
2Adaptability or versatility
If large weapons are mounted on larger UAVs to increase attack capability, then the weapon can be effectively deployed, but the UAV becomes louder, more expensive and easier to detect
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon adapter assembly acts as a mediator that decouples the relationship between UAV size and weapon size. Small UAVs can carry the lightweight adapter while mounting larger handheld weapons, because the adapter's recoil absorption mechanism protects the UAV from weapon recoil. This allows effective weapon deployment on stealthy, small platforms
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter assembly copies the essential mounting and recoil management functions of traditional aircraft weapon systems in a miniaturized form suitable for small UAVs. This allows handheld firearms to be effectively deployed on lightweight platforms without requiring the full infrastructure of traditional aircraft weapon systems
3Ease of operation
If recoil forces are allowed to act directly on the UAV, then the weapon can be fired, but the UAV stability is compromised during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The recoil absorption mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by capturing and dissipating recoil forces through shock-absorbing elements before they can affect the UAV's flight stability. This allows the weapon to be fired without compromising the UAV's compositional stability during flight
Solution Approach 2:
The recoil forces, which would normally be harmful to UAV stability, are converted into a beneficial effect by the absorption mechanism. The recoil energy is captured and dissipated through controlled deformation of shock-absorbing elements, transforming the harmful recoil impulse into a manageable force that does not compromise flight stability
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
Enables small UAVs to maintain stability and effectively deploy weapons generating recoil forces greater than their weight, enhancing their attack capabilities without compromising flight stability.
Implementation Method 1
a recoil absorbing/isolating device
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an adapter for attaching a handheld firearm to an unmanned air vehicle comprises a mounting assembly configured for attachment to said firearm and to the unmanned air vehicle, and an actuation assembly comprising an actuation device configured to actuate a trigger of the handheld firearm.