RU228885U1 - Transportable deployable platform for recharging batteries of aerial robots - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of control and automation systems. The technical result consists in ensuring the compactness of the platform due to its ability to fold. The platform consists of flat, parallel electrodes made in the form of metal strips, which in the unfolded state of the platform are in the same horizontal plane and face their working surface upward. The electrodes are separated from each other by narrow dielectric barriers having a cross-section in the form of an acute-angled triangle with an acute angle of 20-30°, protruding upward above the surface of the electrodes by 5-20 mm. The connections between the electrodes and the dielectric barriers are made of thin insulating material with the ability to bend multiple times. 3 fig.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of control and automation systems and can be used to recharge batteries of unmanned aerial vehicles with vertical takeoff and landing, often called aerial robots (AR). These include, for example, quadcopters.

On-board power sources of the VR are, as a rule, electric batteries. Their capacity is sufficient for a relatively short flight time (about 30 minutes). To perform longer tasks, it is necessary to land the device and recharge the batteries. To continuously perform any task (for example, monitoring the territory), it is possible to organize shift work of a group of VR, some of whom are in the air, and some - at the charging station. The charging itself can be performed using both contact and contactless devices. Contact systems are much simpler and have a high efficiency of power transmission. But for normal contact of the electrodes of the on-board and ground parts, fairly precise guidance and docking of the device with the charging terminal is required.

There are many different technical solutions for ensuring precise contact between the on-board electrodes of air or ground mobile robots and the corresponding electrodes of charging stations. For example, a system for recharging a battery of a mobile object is known [United States Patent No. 5892350, Yoshikawa, April 6, 1999, IPC H02J 7/00], consisting of on-board electrodes connected to the corresponding poles of the on-board battery, a positioning and guidance subsystem, a stationary terminal including a pair of spring-loaded contacts and an electromagnet. The inaccuracy of the docking of the on-board electrodes with the corresponding electrodes of the stationary terminal is corrected by spring-loading the electrodes and an electromagnet, which pulls the corresponding electrodes toward each other and ensures the quality of contact.

The disadvantage of such a device is the need for precise alignment of the corresponding contacts of the mobile device and the charging terminal (“plus” must go to “plus”, and “minus” to “minus”).

There are technical solutions that reduce the requirements for the accuracy of targeting an airborne mobile object to a ground landing platform. For example, in a landing platform [Kemper P., Suzuki K., Morrison J. UAV Consumable Replenishment: Design Concepts for Automated Service Stations // Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems 01/2011. - V. 61. - P. 369-397. - P. 11, fig. 5. Available at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/220062239_UAV_Consumable_Replenishment_Design_Concepts_for_Automated_Service_Stations] the landing platform electrodes are designed as concentric rings located at different levels: the inner ring is located below the outer one, and on the aircraft (in the form of a classic helicopter with a tail rotor) the corresponding electrodes are also located at different levels: the lower electrodes are connected to the chassis, and the upper electrode is located at the end of the tail rotor beam. This arrangement of the electrodes makes it possible to somewhat reduce the requirements for landing accuracy and completely eliminate any requirements for the heading angle of the apparatus. However, the error in guiding the apparatus to the platform must not exceed the dimensions of the platform itself. In addition, only one apparatus can land on such a platform.

The closest in technical essence and achieved result to the claimed one is a platform for recharging the batteries of aerial robots [Onboard battery recharging system for aerial robot / Russian Federation Patent for Utility Model No. 135469. Published on 10.12.2013, IPC H03M 5/22], containing a set of electrodes in the form of metal strips located parallel in one horizontal plane and separated from each other by narrow dielectric barriers protruding upwards above the surface of the electrodes by 2-5 mm, wherein the electrodes are connected to the poles of a ground source of direct current so that their polarities alternate. An VR that has landed on the platform has several electrodes, the points of contact of which with the platform electrodes lie at the vertices of a regular polygon. The onboard electrodes have sufficiently sharp ends, which, in the event of hitting a dielectric barrier, slide off to one of the electrodes. If the VR is a quadcopter, the optimal number of on-board electrodes is four, they are located at the ends of the racks under the supporting beams of the frame, and the points of contact with the platform are at the vertices of a square. If the side of this square is equal to the width of the strip of the ground electrode of the platform, the probability that all on-board electrodes will contact the platform electrodes of the same polarity is practically zero. The on-board electrodes are connected to the inputs of the electronic switching circuit, to the output of which, with any combination of polarities at the inputs, the voltage of the ground power source is transmitted in the correct polarity, which is applied to the on-board charger, from which the on-board battery is charged. To begin the recharging process, the VR does not need to be precisely landed on the platform: the on-board charger is connected to the ground source at any position of the VR on the platform. In addition, several VRs can be charged simultaneously on the platform.

However, the described platform is intended mainly for stationary use. It can have fairly large dimensions and is poorly suited for transportation. Its use as a stationary platform with a rigid attachment to one installation site is associated with the problem of exposure to atmospheric precipitation, from which it must be constantly covered.

The technical result of the proposed utility model is to ensure the compactness of the platform due to its ability to fold.

The technical result is achieved in that in the known prototype platform for recharging the batteries of aerial robots, containing a set of electrodes in the form of metal strips arranged parallel in one horizontal plane and separated from each other by narrow dielectric barriers protruding upward above the surface of the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are designed with the possibility of connecting to the poles of a ground source of direct current so that their polarities alternate, in contrast to the prototype, the dielectric barriers have a cross-section in the form of an acute-angled triangle with an acute angle of 20-30°, protruding upward above the surface of the electrodes by 5-20 mm, the connections between the electrodes and the dielectric barriers are made of a thin insulating material with the possibility of multiple bending, the gaps between the electrodes and the dielectric barriers are proportionate to the thickness of the electrodes, the lower surfaces of all electrodes facing the ground are covered with a thin insulating layer, and a contact of a plug connector electrically connected to the electrode is located on the edge of the strip of each electrode.

The essence of the utility model is explained by drawings (Fig. 1-3).

Fig. 1 shows a view of the platform from above in the unfolded state with a power supply connection diagram.

Fig. 2 shows a front view of the platform in the deployed state with an additional enlarged view of the connection of the electrodes to the dielectric barrier.

Fig. 3 shows a general view of the platform in the folded state.

The platform consists of flat, parallel electrodes 1, made in the form of metal strips, which in the unfolded state of the platform are in the same horizontal plane and face their working surface upward. Electrodes 1 are separated from each other by narrow dielectric barriers 2, having a cross-section in the form of an acute-angled triangle with an acute angle of 20-30°, protruding upward above the surface of the electrodes by 5-20 mm (depending on the size of the serviced aerial robots). The connections between the electrodes 1 and the dielectric barriers 2 are made of thin insulating material 3 with the possibility of multiple bending (Fig. 2). The gaps between the electrodes 1 and the dielectric barriers 2 are approximately equal to the thickness of the electrodes 1. The lower surfaces of all electrodes 1 facing the ground are covered with a thin insulating layer 4 (Fig. 2). At the edge of the strip of each electrode 1 there is a contact of a plug connector 5, electrically connected to the electrode 1 (Fig. 1). In the front view (Fig. 2) the contacts of the plug connectors are not shown conditionally.

The platform is used as follows. In the unfolded state of the platform, power cables 6 and 7 are connected to the contacts of plug connectors 5, which transmit voltage from the ground DC power source to electrodes 1 in such a way that the polarities of the electrodes alternate, i.e. the odd electrodes are connected to one pole of the power source, and the even ones to the other (Fig. 1). After the aerial robot lands on the platform, its battery is recharged, after which it leaves the platform to perform a task. The process can be repeated many times. Several aerial robots can be serviced on the platform simultaneously. After completing the mission (after completing the flight shift), power cables 6 and 7 are disconnected from the contacts of plug connectors 5, and the platform itself is quickly folded according to the “accordion” principle, which is possible due to the flexibility of the insulating material 3, connecting the electrodes 1 and the adjacent dielectric barriers 2. The platform, compactly folded in this way, can be placed in a protective cover (for example, to protect it from precipitation), in this form it is convenient to store and transport.

An insulating layer 4 under each of the electrodes 1 is necessary to prevent electrical short-circuiting of the electrodes between themselves when the platform is placed on conductive or damp surfaces, for example, in the body of a car, on damp ground, etc.

The acute-angled shape of the cross-section of the dielectric barriers 2 helps to eliminate the possibility of its on-board electrodes (which also have pointed ends) getting stuck on the upper edge of the dielectric barriers 2 when the air robot lands on the platform.

The platform has a simple design and can be implemented on the basis of cheap materials using simple and accessible technologies. Electrodes 1 can be made of sheet metal that is slightly susceptible to corrosion or with an anti-corrosion coating, for example, aluminum or galvanized steel. Dielectric barriers can be made of profiled plastic or fiberglass. Insulating coating 4 can also be made of thin sheet plastic or fiberglass. Insulating material 3 can be, for example, rubberized fabric, nylon or other fabric resistant to repeated bending. In Fig. 3 (additional view I) shows one of the possible methods of fastening the insulating material 3 to the electrode 1 and the dielectric barrier 2. According to this method, a strip of insulating material 3 is glued to the lower surfaces of adjacent electrodes 1 and the dielectric barrier 2 separating them, then an insulating layer 4 is glued to the lower surface of the electrodes, and a pressing plastic profile 8 is glued to the lower part of the dielectric barrier 2. In this case, between the electrode 1 and the dielectric barrier 2, it is necessary to leave a gap approximately equal to the thickness of the electrode to ensure free bending of the insulating material 3. For greater strength, the glued parts 1 and 4, as well as 2 and 8, can be subjected to pressing.

The claimed utility model has a novelty in relation to the prototype, which consists in the implementation of a folding platform design.

The technical result of the proposed utility model is to ensure the compactness of the platform due to its ability to fold. This provides the following advantages compared to the prototype:

quick deployment and collapse of the platform;

convenient transportation of the platform in a folded state;

ease of storage of the compactly folded platform;

ease of providing protection for the folded platform from atmospheric precipitation.

Claims (1)

A platform for recharging the batteries of aerial robots, comprising a set of electrodes in the form of metal strips arranged parallel in one horizontal plane and separated from each other by narrow dielectric barriers protruding upward above the surface of the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are designed with the possibility of connecting to the poles of a ground source of direct current so that their polarities alternate, characterized in that the dielectric barriers have a cross-section in the form of an acute-angled triangle with an acute angle of 20-30°, protruding upwards above the surface of the electrodes by 5-20 mm, the connections between the electrodes and the dielectric barriers are made of a thin insulating material with the possibility of repeated bending, the gaps between the electrodes and the dielectric barriers are proportionate to the thickness of the electrodes, the lower surfaces of all electrodes facing the ground are covered with a thin insulating layer, and on the edge of the strip of each electrode there is a contact of a plug connector, electrically connected to the electrode.