Winch Grid UAV Recovery System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to safely and quickly retrieve a vertically landing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a landing platform with uncontrolled relative movement, such as caused by strong winds or waves, which poses risks of damage to the UAV and landing platform.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a landing platform with a grid and a winch that can manually or electrically haul in a cord with a weight, designed to securely engage the weight and retrieve the UAV, allowing for controlled retrieval even in adverse conditions like waves or wind, with the winch positioned below the grid to prevent interference and ensure safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a cord with weight is used to retrieve the UAV, then the UAV can be pulled in against buoyancy and wind, but the system becomes complex and difficult to control during uncontrolled relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
A weight is introduced as an intermediary element between the UAV and the retrieval system. The weight serves multiple functions: it provides the necessary force to pull the UAV against buoyancy and wind, acts as a guide through the grid opening, and can be independently managed separate from the UAV itself. This mediator simplifies the overall system complexity by decoupling the retrieval force generation from the UAV control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The retrieval system is segmented into independent components: the UAV, the cord, the weight, and the winch mechanism. The weight can be released separately from the UAV, allowing independent control of the retrieval force. This segmentation enables the system to handle uncontrolled relative movement more effectively by allowing the weight to lead the cord through the grid while the UAV follows, reducing the complexity of coordinating the entire system simultaneously.
2Reliability
If manual winch operation is used, then the operator can observe and control the retrieval process during wave motion, but the retrieval speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The winch system is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing transition between manual operation for reliability and automated operation for speed. The system adapts its control mode based on operational conditions: manual control during critical phases with wave motion or uncontrolled relative movement, and potentially automated operation during stable conditions when higher retrieval speed is needed. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between control reliability and retrieval speed.
3Ease of operation
If the winch is positioned above the grid, then the cord can be redirected, but the unmanned aircraft may cause damage to the area below the grid during landing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the winch above the grid as conventional design would suggest, the winch is inverted and positioned below the grid. This inversion eliminates the hazard to personnel or equipment below the grid while the cord redirection function is maintained through alternative routing. The cord passes upward from the weight through the grid opening, then connects to the winch below, achieving both safety and operational functionality.
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 quick and safe loading of UAVs onto a moving platform by preventing damage and ensuring the UAV lands correctly on the grid, even in challenging sea-based environments, with the winch's ability to manage line retrieval effectively against lift and movement.
Implementation Method 1
The weight fits through the grid, but the unmanned aircraft does not fit through the grid
Implementation Method 2
The winch is designed to retrieve the line and the unmanned aircraft
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for recovering an unmanned aircraft (10), the system comprising a landing platform and an unmanned aircraft (10), wherein the unmanned aircraft (10) is a vertical-landing unmanned aircraft (10) and the landing platform has a grid (20). The invention further relates to a method for recovering an unmanned aircraft (10) on a landing platform using a system according to the invention for recovering an unmanned aircraft (10).