RU2805429C1 - Device for capturing and holding sensory elements - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: unmanned aerial vehicles.

SUBSTANCE: system for delivering sensor elements of wireless sensor networks using unmanned aerial vehicles contains a power source, electric motors, a winch with a cable and a permanent magnet attached to it located on the unmanned aerial vehicle, while the upper surface of the sensor element is made of ferromagnetic material, and the device for capturing and holding sensor elements is equipped with a vessel with compressed gas connected through a controlled valve to a working container having a toroidal shape and made of elastic material, or having a ring shape and made in the form of a bellows.

EFFECT: it is possible to transport sensor elements of sensor networks without the cost of electricity to power electromagnets.

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Description

The invention relates to the field of wireless sensor networks (WSN), and can be used to ensure the movement of these sensor elements (SE) using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Placing solar cells in the environment is a challenging task. SEs can be used for a variety of purposes, such as sampling and measuring air composition, measuring the structural integrity of man-made structures, collecting visual data, assessing traffic data, or detecting wildlife populations in the environment. The placement of these sensors is traditionally done in person. This method is associated with a number of limitations, in particular, the need to place solar cells in hard-to-reach places. Therefore, there are a number of attempts to deploy and test solar cells using automated UAVs. Providing reliable 24/7 power supply is also essential for the efficient operation of the WSN. Reliable power supply of solar cells is often provided by moving them using UAVs to places where batteries are recharged [1]. A number of other methods of using UAVs for the purpose of transporting goods are also known from the state of the art [2].

The closest in technical essence is a device for transporting goods using UAVs [3].

The proposed solution to the problem is to release the sensor element due to the pressure force of compressed gas entering a container whose dimensions change under the influence of pressure.

The technical result of the proposed invention is the possibility of transporting solar cells using a UAV, when used as a means of holding permanent magnets, without the cost of electricity to power the electromagnets.

The known prototype can move the solar cell using a UAV, in accordance with the diagram presented in Figure 1.

Here, the SE is considered as the payload 108, and the device 106 is the payload capture and release device.

Transportation of cargo 108 is carried out using the UAV 100 and is held using a cargo release and capture device 106 connected to the lifting mechanism 104 via a cable 102. After releasing the cargo 108, the capture device moves inside the UAV 100, and the hatch covers 114 are closed.

The load release and capture devices 106 may include one or more magnetic functions that can be activated/deactivated in response to an input signal, eg, permanent magnets, paramagnetic materials. The payload 108 may also include magnetic elements and may be secured to the device 106 by magnetic forces of attraction between such magnetic elements, and then the payload 108 may be released by deactivating the magnetic elements or overcoming the attractive force.

The prototype under consideration does not indicate the means of overcoming the attractive force of the magnet when releasing the payload and the possibility of implementing the specified device in relation to the solar cell.

The proposed device for capturing and holding solar cells operates as follows.

In FIG. 2a and 2b show diagrams of the implementation of devices for capturing and holding sensor elements when they are transported using a UAV. SE 108, representing the payload, is moved to its destination using a UAV 100, which has a radio transceiver, control controller, power supply unit and satellite orientation means (103), as well as video surveillance equipment 101. SE 108 can be moved relative to the UAV using a winch 104 and cable 102. The upper plane 201 of the SE is made of ferromagnetic material and is held by a permanent magnet 203 (for example, ring-shaped). The proposed method provides for a source of compressed gas 205, an electrically controlled valve 206 with a connecting hose 207 (or without a hose). If it is necessary to release the SE, valve 206 opens upon a signal from the controller and compressed gas from the source of compressed gas 205 enters the working container, which changes its size. The working container 202, shown in Fig. 2a (for example), has a toroidal shape and is made of an elastic material (for example, rubber). The working container 208, shown in Fig. 2b (for example), has an annular shape and is made in the form of a bellows. When gas under pressure enters the working container 202 or 208, the working container expands and separates the surface 201 of the SE 108 from the permanent magnet 203, freeing the SE 108 from the influence of attractive forces by the magnet 203. Next, the SE 108 is separated under the influence of its own weight, and the valve blocks the access of gas and opens the gas outlet from the working tank to the atmosphere. The working capacity 202 (or 208) under the influence of its own elastic forces returns to its original (compressed) position.

If it is necessary to deliver the SE 108 from the place of its operation, the UAV 100 arrives at the location of the SE 108 and releases the capture device using a winch 104 and a cable 102. Using a video camera 101, remote (or automatic) monitoring and control of the capture process is performed.

LITERATURE

1. Likhtzinder B.Ya., Maslov O.N. A method for recharging batteries in a wireless sensor network. Patent for invention No. 2730468 dated January 30, 2020. State date registration 08/24/2020

2. System and method for placement of sensors through use of unmanned aerial vehicles (US20160232794A1) [Electronic resource] / URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20160232794A1.

3. Payload-Release Device and Operation Thereof (US20160059963A1) [Electronic resource] / URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20160059963A1.

Claims (1)

A system for delivering sensor elements of wireless sensor networks using unmanned aerial vehicles, containing a power supply located on the unmanned aerial vehicle, electric motors, a winch with a cable and a permanent magnet attached to it, characterized in that the upper surface of the sensor element is made of ferromagnetic material, and the capture device and holding the sensor elements is equipped with a vessel with compressed gas connected through a controlled valve to a working container having a toroidal shape and made of elastic material, or having a ring shape and made in the form of a bellows, the expansion of the volume of which leads to overcoming the forces of magnetic attraction and releasing the sensor element .

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