DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates generally to an unmanned aerial vehicle, and more particularly relates to a drone with an air guide.
BACKGROUND
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are the vehicles that are remotely piloted by an operator. The UAVs are widely used for performing inspection, surveillance and various other operations. The UAVs require an electronic circuitry or other components to facilitate various operations that are performed by the UAVs. While the UAV manoeuvres in the air, a lot of heat is produced within the UAV, especially in a body of the UAV. The internal components of the UAV, therefore: gets heated up, which may impair the functionality of the internal components of the UAV. This hampers the manoeuvrability of the UAV. Sometimes the internal heat may even damage the UAV and thereby resulting in failure of the UAVs.
In an attempt to carry away the heat produced within the UAV, there are various techniques that are employed in drones. One such technique being usage of coolant through a number of conduits around the UAV, which carries away the heat from the UAV. The conduits consume a lot of space around the UAV and making the drone bulky. Further the conduits are add-ons to the UAVs, which affects the aerodynamics of the UAV, while flying. The lubricant flowing through the conduits may disbalance the drone during flight and thereby affecting the operations being performed by the drone. Further, the existing UAVs require additional cooling mechanism, which is to be integrated in the UAV to facilitate cooling. The additional cooling mechanism adds-on weight to the UAV and thereby reducing flight time.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a drone that is capable of solving aforementioned problems of the conventional drones.
SUMMARY
In view of the foregoing, a drone chassis is disclosed. The drone chassis including: a plurality of arms each arm of the plurality of arms including proximal and distal ends a slit disposed within the proximal and distal ends and extends along a length of each arm. The slit entrains ambient air into each arm such that the ambient air directs towards the proximal end and an air guide that is coupled to the proximal end such that the air guide guides the ambient air from the proximal end onto one or more components that are disposed within the drone chassis.
In some embodiments, the air guide including first and second apertures a body portion that extends within the first and second apertures such that the body portion facilitates the ambient air to flow from the first aperture to the second aperture.
In some embodiments, the proximal end including an exit hole such that the air guide is received within the exit hole wherein the ambient air flows from the exit hole to the first aperture.
In some embodiments, the second aperture is positioned in vicinity of the one or more components such that the second aperture throws the ambient air on the one or more components to lower temperature of the one or more components.
In some embodiments, the drone chassis further including a plurality of discharge apertures such that the plurality of discharge apertures facilitate the ambient air to discharge from the drone chassis upon lowering the temperature of the one or more components wherein the ambient air, upon discharging, supplements thrust force generated by a plurality of propellers.
In some aspects, a drone is disclosed. The drone including a drone chassis including: a plurality of arms each arm of the plurality of arms including proximal and distal ends a slit disposed within the proximal and distal ends and extends along a length of each arm, wherein the slit entrains ambient air into each arm such that the ambient air directs towards the proximal end and an air guide that is coupled to the proximal end such that the air guide guides the ambient air from the proximal end onto one or more components that are disposed within the drone chassis.
In some embodiments, the air guide including: first and second apertures a body portion that extends within the first and second apertures such that the body portion facilitates the ambient air to flow from the first aperture to the second aperture.
In some embodiments, the proximal end including an exit hole such that the air guide is received within the exit hole wherein the ambient air flows from the exit hole to the first aperture.
In some embodiments, the second aperture is positioned in vicinity of the one or more components such that the second aperture throws the ambient air on the one or more components to lower temperature of the one or more components.
In some embodiments, the drone further including a plurality of motors a plurality of propellers that are coupled to the plurality of motors such that the plurality of motors are adapted to rotate the plurality of propellers wherein upon rotation, the plurality of propellers are adapted to generate thrust force.
In some embodiments, the drone chassis further including a plurality of discharge apertures such that the plurality of discharge apertures facilitates the ambient air to discharge from the drone chassis upon lowering the temperature of the one or more components wherein the ambient air, upon discharging, supplements the thrust force generated by the plurality of propellers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure becomes apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a drone, in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 1B illustrates a sectional bottom view of the drone of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective sectional view of a drone chassis of the drone of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an air guide, in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional front view of the air guide of FIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment herein; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a zoomed-view of section A-A of the drone of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment herein.
To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a drone with an air guide. The following description provides specific details of certain embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in the drawings to provide a thorough understanding of those embodiments. It should be recognized, however, that the present disclosure can be reflected in additional embodiments and the disclosure may be practiced without some of the details in the following description.
The various embodiments including the example embodiments are now described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the various embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity.
It is understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers that may be present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The subject matter of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, is described specifically to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventor/inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other technologies. Generally, the various embodiments including the example embodiments relate to a drone with an air guide.
As mentioned there remains a need for providing a drone that is capable of lowering temperature of one or more components housed within the drone. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides drone with an air guide that efficiently and precisely guides ambient air towards to lower temperature of the one or more components.
FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a drone 100, in accordance with an embodiment herein. FIG. 1B illustrates a sectional bottom view of the drone 100 of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The drone 100 may be one of, a remotely operated drone and auto-piloted drone. The remotely operated drone may be remotely controlled by an operator. The auto-piloted drone may be provided with a controller that may be encoded with one or more algorithms. The one or more algorithms may control the auto-piloted drone. The drone 100 may include a drone chassis 102, a plurality of motors 104 of which first through fourth motors 104a-104d (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the motors 104”) are shown, a plurality of propellers 106 of which first through fourth propellers 106a-106d (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the propellers 106”) are shown.
The drone chassis 102 may include a front face 108, a plurality of sockets 110 of which first through fourth sockets 110a-110d (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the sockets 110”) are shown, a plurality of arms 112 of which first through fourth arms 112a-112d (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the arms 112”) are shown, and a plurality of discharge apertures 114a-114n (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the discharge apertures 114”). Each arm of the arms 112 may include proximal and distal ends 116 and 118, a slit 120, and an air guide 122 (as shown in FIG. 1B). The proximal end 116 may include an exit hole 124.
The drone chassis 102 may be adapted to house one or more components 204a-204c (as shown later in FIG. 2) of the drone 100. The one or more components 204a-204c may include but not limited to, a processing unit, processing circuitry, electronic circuitry, a plurality of cameras, a plurality of sensors, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of component of the drone 100. Each socket of the sockets 110 may be disposed at a plurality of corners of the drone chassis 102. Each arm of the arms 112 may project out from the drone chassis 102 such that each arm of the arms 112 may be received within corresponding socket of the sockets 110. Specifically, the proximal end 116 may be received within the corresponding socket of the sockets 110 and the distal end 118 may extend freely apart from the drone chassis 102. The motors 104 may be coupled to the distal end 118 of each arm of the arms 112. The propellers 106 may be coupled to the motors 104. The motors 104 may be adapted to provide a rotational force to the propellers 106 that may rotate the propellers 106. The propellers 106, upon rotation, may generate thrust force that may lift the drone 100 in an upward direction.
In some embodiments, the motors 104 may be one of, a brushed motor and brushless motor. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any kind of known and later developed motor.
In some embodiments, the propellers 106 may be adapted to rotate at revolutions per minute (rpm) that may lie in a range between 7000 and 12000.
In some embodiments, the arms 112 may exhibit any kind of shape that may be suitable for facilitating smooth flow of the ambient air within the arms 112.
Although FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate that the drone 100 includes a plurality of motors i.e., the first through fourth motors 104a-104d, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other embodiments, the drone 100 may include any number of motors, whether less than four motors or more than four motors without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In such a scenario, each motor may be adapted to perform one or more operations in a manner similar to the operation of the first through fourth motors 104a-104d as described above.
Although FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate that the drone 100 includes a plurality of propellers i.e., the first through propellers 106a-106d, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other embodiments, the drone 100 may include any number of propellers, whether less than four propellers or more than four propellers without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In such a scenario, each propeller may be adapted to perform one or more operations in a manner similar to the operation of the first through fourth propellers 106a-106d as described above.
Although FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate that the drone 100 includes a plurality of arms i.e., the first through fourth arms 112a-112d, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other embodiments, the drone 100 may include any number of arms, whether less than four arms or more than four arms without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In such a scenario, each arm may be adapted to perform one or more operations in a manner similar to the operation of the first through fourth arms 112a-112d and each arm may exhibit same or substantially similar geometry/constructional features to that of the first through fourth arms 112a-112d as described hereinabove.
The slit 120 may be disposed within the proximal and distal ends 116 and 118. Specifically, the slit 120 may extend along a length of each arm of the arms 112. The slit 120 may be adapted to entrain ambient air into respective arm of the arms 112. Specifically, the slit 120 may be adapted to entrain the ambient air into each arm of the arms 112 such that the ambient air directs or channelized towards the proximal end 116.
In some embodiments, the ambient air may be formed by the thrust force generated by the propellers 106.
In some embodiments, the slit 120 may have a shape including but not limited to, a rectangle, a square, an oval, a circle, a rhombus, a trapezium, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any kind of known and later developed shape of the slit 120 that may facilitate easy channelising of the ambient air towards the proximal end 116.
In some embodiments, the periphery of the slit 120 may be covered with a heat absorbing material that may absorb heat from the ambient air and may allow cool ambient air to enter into each arm of the arms 112. For example, the heat absorbing material may include, but not limited to, silver, copper, aluminium, brass, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any kind of known and later developed heat absorbing materials.
Although FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate that each arm of the arms 112 includes one slit (i.e., the slit 120), it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other embodiments, each arm of the arms 112 may include more than one slits without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In such a scenario, each slit may be adapted to perform one or more operations in a manner similar to the one or more operations of the slit 120 and each slit may exhibit same or substantially similar geometry/constructional features to that of the slit 120 as described hereinabove.
The air guide 122 may be coupled to the proximal end 116 of each arm of the arms 112. Specifically, the air guide 122 may be received within the exit hole 124. The air guide 122 may be adapted to guide the ambient air from the proximal end 116 onto the one or more components 204a-204c. The ambient air, upon being in contact with the one or more components 204a-204c may lower temperature of the one or more components 204a-204c. In other words, the ambient air, upon being in contact with the one or more components 204a-204c may cool down the one or more components 204a-204c to mitigate the effect of heat generated by the one or more components 204a-204c.
In some embodiments, heat transfer between the one or more components 204a-204c and the ambient air may be a convection heat transfer that may cool the one or more components 204a-204c.
In some embodiments, the one or more components 204a-204c may be housed within each arm of the arms 112. The ambient air, upon being entrained from the slit 120 into each arm of the arms 112, may be adapted to lower the temperature of the one or more components 204a-204c. In other words, the ambient air, upon being entrained from the slit 120 into each arm of the arms 112, may be adapted to cool down the one or more components 204a-204c.
In some embodiments, each arm of the arms 112 may be tapered such that the internal diameter of each arm of the arms 112 may either increase or decrease towards the exit hole 124. The tapering of each arm of the arms 112 may be adapted to increase the velocity of the ambient within the drone chassis 102. The increase in the velocity of the ambient air may enable a smooth circulation of the ambient air within the drone chassis 102 such that the ambient air lowers the temperature of the one or more components 204a-204c.
In some embodiments, the ambient air may be adapted to lower temperature of an internal cavity (not shown) within the drone chassis 102. In other words, the ambient air may be adapted to cool the temperature of the internal cavity within the drone chassis 102.
In some embodiments, the air guide 122 may be disposed between two arms of the arms 112. Specifically, the air guide 122 may be disposed between the proximal ends of the two arms of the arms 122. For example, the air guide 122 may be disposed between the proximal ends of the first and second arms 112a and 112b. The air guide 122 may further be disposed between the proximal ends of the third and fourth arms 112c and 112d.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective sectional view of the drone chassis 102 of the drone 100 of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The drone chassis 102 may further include a bottom face 202, the one or more components 204a-204c, a top face 206, and a pair of side faces 208a and 208b (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the side faces 208”).
The sockets 110 may be disposed near the top face 206. Specifically, the sockets 110 may be disposed at the corners that may be formed by the top face 206 and the side faces 208. The discharge apertures 114 may be disposed on the bottom face 202. The one or more components 204a-204c may be enclosed within the front face 108, the bottom face 202, the top face 206, and the side faces 208. The ambient air, upon lowering the temperature of the one or more components 204a-204c may be discharged from the drone chassis 102 through the discharge apertures 114. In other words, the ambient air, upon cooling down the one or more components 204a-204c may be discharged from the drone chassis 102 through the discharge apertures 114. The ambient air, upon discharging through the discharge apertures 114 may be adapted to supplement the thrust force that may be generated by the propellers 106. Since, the ambient air discharges in a direction of thrust force, therefore, the ambient air, upon discharging, may not hamper thrust efficiency of the drone 100. Specifically, by virtue of same direction of discharge of the ambient air and the thrust force, the thrust efficiency of the drone 100 may be improved.
FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the air guide 122, in accordance with an embodiment herein. FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional front view of the air guide 122 of FIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The air guide 122 may include a first aperture 302, a second aperture 304, and a body portion 306.
The body portion 306 may extend within the first and second apertures 302 and 304. The body portion 306 may facilitate the ambient air to flow from the first aperture 302 to the second aperture 304. The air guide 122 may be received within the exit hole 124 such that the first aperture 302 faces the exit hole 124. Specifically, the air guide 122 may be received within the exit hole 124 such that the ambient air flows from the exit hole 124 to the first aperture 302. The second aperture 304 may be positioned in vicinity of the one or more components 204a-204c. Specifically, the second aperture 304 may be positioned in the vicinity of the one or more components 204a-204c such that the second aperture 304 throws the ambient air on the one or more components 204a-204c. The second aperture 304, upon throwing the ambient air on the one or more components 204a-204c lower the temperature of the one or more components 204a-204c. In other words, the second aperture 304 may be positioned in the vicinity of the one or more components 204a-204c such that the second aperture 304 throws the ambient air on the one or more components 204a-204c. The second aperture 304, upon throwing the ambient air on the one or more components 204a-204c cool down the one or more components 204a-204c.
FIG. 4 illustrates a zoomed-view of section A-A of the drone 100 of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment herein. Specifically, the section A-A represents zoomed view of the front face 108. The front face 108 may include a plurality of vents 402a-402n (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the vents 402”). The front face 108 may encounter highest frictional force or drag force, when the drone 100 is flying. The vents 402 may be adapted to minimize the drag force that may be encountered by the front face 108. The vents 402 may be adapted to entrain the ambient air into the drone chassis 102 to lower the temperature of the one or more components 204a-204c. In other words, the vents 402 may be adapted to entrain the ambient air into the drone chassis 102 to cool down the one or more components 204a-204c.
In some embodiments, the vents 402 may exhibit a shape that may be suitable for efficiently entraining the ambient air into the drone chassis 102. In some embodiments, the vents 402 may be arranged in a configuration that may be suitable for efficiently entraining the ambient air into the drone chassis 102.
Thus, the drone 100 may provide following advantages that may be derived from the structural and functional aspects of the drone 100: -
- The drone 100 may be capable of removing heat from the drone chassis 102.
- The air guide 122 may efficiently and precisely guide the ambient air towards the one or more components 204a-204c that cool down the one or more components quickly.
- The slit 120 of each arm of the arms 112 may allow the ambient air to flow smoothly within the drone chassis 102, which may carry away majority of the heat from the drone chassis 102.
- The slit 120, the air guide 122, and the vents 402 may prevent excessive heat build-up within the drone 100, thereby may prevent damaging/hampering of the one or more components 204a-204c.
- The air guide 122, the slit 120, and the vents 402 may eliminate need of additional cooling mechanism and thereby may control weight of the drone 100, which may further improve flight time of the drone 100.
- The discharge apertures 114 may reduce wastage of the thrust force (which may be caused due to interference of arms 112). Specifically, the ambient air discharges from the discharge apertures 114, therefore, the ambient air supplements to thrust force and improving lift of the drone 100.
The foregoing discussion of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or embodiments may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or embodiments other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention the present disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive embodiments lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate aspect of the present disclosure.
Moreover, though the description of the present disclosure has included description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the present disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
,CLAIMS:I/We claim(s)
1. A drone chassis (102) comprising:
a plurality of arms (112a-112d), each arm of the plurality of arms (112a-112d) comprising:
proximal and distal ends (116, 118);
a slit (120) disposed within the proximal and distal ends and extends along a length of each arm, wherein the slit (120) entrains ambient air into each arm such that the ambient air directs towards the proximal end (116); and
an air guide (122) that is coupled to the proximal end (116) such that the air guide (122) guides the ambient air from the proximal end (116) onto one or more components (204a-204c) that are disposed within the drone chassis (102).

2. The drone chassis (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air guide (122) comprising:
first and second apertures (302, 304);
a body portion (306) that extends within the first and second apertures (302, 304) such that the body portion (306) facilitates the ambient air to flow from the first aperture (302) to the second aperture (304).

3. The drone chassis (102) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the proximal end (116) comprising an exit hole (124) such that the air guide (122) is received within the exit hole (124), wherein the ambient air flows from the exit hole (124) to the first aperture (302).

4. The drone chassis (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second aperture (304) is positioned in vicinity of the one or more components (204a-204c) such that the second aperture (304) throws the ambient air on the one or more components (204a-204c) to lower temperature of the one or more components (204a-204c).
5. The drone chassis (102) as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a plurality of discharge apertures (114a-114n) such that the plurality of discharge apertures (114a-114n) facilitate the ambient air to discharge from the drone chassis (102) upon lowering the temperature of the one or more components (204a-204c), wherein the ambient air, upon discharging, supplements thrust force generated by a plurality of propellers (106a-106d).

6. A drone (100) comprising:
a drone chassis (102) comprising:
a plurality of arms (112a-112d), each arm of the plurality of arms (112a-112d) comprising:
proximal and distal ends (116, 118);
a slit (120) disposed within the proximal and distal ends and extends along a length of each arm, wherein the slit (120) entrains ambient air into each arm such that the ambient air directs towards the proximal end (116); and
an air guide (122) that is coupled to the proximal end (116) such that the air guide (122) guides the ambient air from the proximal end (116) onto one or more components (204a-204c) that are disposed within the drone chassis (102).

7. The drone (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the air guide (122) comprising:
first and second apertures (302, 304);
a body portion (306) that extends within the first and second apertures (302, 304) such that the body portion (306) facilitates the ambient air to flow from the first aperture (302) to the second aperture (304).

8. The drone (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the proximal end (116) comprising an exit hole (124) such that the air guide (122) is received within the exit hole (124), wherein the ambient air flows from the exit hole (124) to the first aperture (302).

9. The drone (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second aperture (304) is positioned in vicinity of the one or more components (204a-204c) such that the second aperture (304) throws the ambient air on the one or more components (204a-204c) to lower temperature of the one or more components (204a-204c).

10. The drone (100) as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
a plurality of motors (104a-104d);
a plurality of propellers (106a-106d) that are coupled to the plurality of motors (104a-104d) such that the plurality of motors (104a-104d) are adapted to rotate the plurality of propellers (106a-106d), wherein upon rotation, the plurality of propellers (106a-106d) are adapted to generate thrust force.

11. The drone (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the drone chassis (102) further comprising a plurality of discharge apertures (114a-114n) such that the plurality of discharge apertures (114a-114n) facilitates the ambient air to discharge from the drone chassis (102) upon lowering the temperature of the one or more components (204a-204c), wherein the ambient air, upon discharging, supplements the thrust force generated by the plurality of propellers (106a-106d).