Vehicle Drone Docking Station With Rotating Guide Panel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a technology that enables safe and efficient docking of drones to vehicles for cargo transfer, allowing for the loading of cargo onto drones and subsequent delivery to customers, while ensuring stable flight and collision avoidance.
Innovation Solution
A drone docking station for vehicles, comprising a transfer device, a guide device with a rotatable guide panel, and a control unit, which facilitates the vertical movement and alignment of cargo with the drone, using actuators and detection sensors for precise alignment and communication with the drone for docking operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed guide panel is used for drone docking, then the structure is simple, but the drone cannot be accurately aligned with the cargo position
Solution Approach 1:
The guide panel is designed to be rotatable around the transfer device, transforming from a static structure to a dynamic one. The control unit rotates the guide panel to different angles to align the drone with the cargo position, enabling accurate alignment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guide panel is made movable and rotatable, then the drone alignment accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide panel serves multiple functions: it guides the drone to the docking position, provides structural support, and enables angular adjustment for alignment. The single rotatable guide panel structure performs what would otherwise require multiple separate adjustment mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while improving adaptability.
3Productivity
If manual docking operation is used, then the control system is simple, but the docking efficiency and precision are low
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically controls the rotation of the guide panel based on detection of the drone's position and orientation, creating a feedback loop that enables precise automatic docking. This automated control system significantly improves docking efficiency and precision compared to manual operation.
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 secure and efficient transfer of cargo between vehicles and drones, ensuring accurate loading and unloading, and facilitating autonomous drone operations for delivery purposes.
Implementation Method 1
a lead screw extending outwardly from the middle portion of the base panel, a screw nut engaged with the lead screw and moved in a direction in which the lead screw extends depending upon the rotation of the lead screw
Implementation Method 2
a first gear provided on the end portion of the lead screw and a first rack gear formed in a shape of a circle to be gear-engaged with the first gears, and the first driving motor may be provided with a second gear on a rotation shaft, and the second gear may be connected to the first rack gear to rotate a plurality of lead screws
Implementation Method 3
a second rack gear extending in a shape of a circle along an external surface of the base panel and coupled thereto, and a rotation shaft of the second driving motor may be provided with a third gear engaged with the second rack gear to rotate the second rack gear according to the rotation of the second driving motor
Data Source
AI summary
A drone docking station for a vehicle includes: a transfer device configured to have a cargo loaded on a drone or to vertically move the cargo transferred by the drone; a guide device including a guide panel provided on a roof of the vehicle and connected to an upper end portion of the transfer device to have the drone accommodated on an upper portion of the guide panel, wherein the guide panel is disposed to surround the transfer device and provided to move inward or outward or to be rotated around a center portion of the transfer device; and a control unit electrically connected to the guide device and configured to rotate or move the guide panel so that the drone corresponds to the cargo positioned in the transfer device when the drone is accommodated on the guide panel.