JP6944978B2 - Drone port - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drone port that reduces downwash bounce and improves landing accuracy and safety during takeoff and landing of a drone.

"Drone" is a type of small unmanned helicopter and means a rotary wing aircraft equipped with three or more rotors.
In recent years, it has been planned to use drones to transport small packages unmanned. Such a drone is called a "logistics drone".

"Downwash" means the downward flow of air generated by the rotor blades of a drone.
Conventionally, a flat plate with a small opening has been mainly used for the takeoff and landing surface of the drone port where the drone takes off and landing. However, in this case, the downwash generated by the drone rebounds on the takeoff and landing surface, and the area around the rotor blades of the drone becomes a state in which a downward flow and an upward flow are mixed. Therefore, it becomes difficult to control the attitude of the drone at the time of takeoff and landing, the landing accuracy is lowered, and the safety may be impaired.

Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 is disclosed as a means for reducing the rebound of downwash.

The "takeoff and landing platform of an unmanned aerial vehicle" of Patent Document 1 includes a ground effect reducing means for reducing the ground effect at the time of landing on the board surface of the takeoff and landing platform on which an unmanned aerial vehicle can take off and land. The ground effect reducing means includes a through hole portion formed on the board surface of the takeoff and landing platform and communicating the upper surface and the lower surface, an opening / closing switching portion, and an air suction portion. The open / close switching portion switches the communication state of the through hole portion to reduce the ground effect. The air suction portion causes air on the upper surface side of the board surface to flow toward the lower surface side when the through hole portion is in communication, and positively reduces the ground effect.

Japanese Patent No. 6228706

The means of Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
(1) Since a through hole portion and an opening / closing switching portion are provided on the board surface of the takeoff / landing platform, the opening rate of the takeoff / landing platform is low and the downwash rebounds greatly.
(2) Downwash is high speed, and a large air suction unit (for example, a large fan motor) is required for the air suction unit to suck a high-speed downward flow. Therefore, the required energy (for example, electric power) is large.
(3) The downwash (downflow of air) has a high-speed region, and even if an air suction unit is used, suction tends to be insufficient, and the effect of reducing rebound is small.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to significantly reduce the rebound of downwash with no or significantly smaller energy even when the downwash (downflow of air) generated by the rotary blade of the drone has a high-speed region. It is to provide a drone port that can be used.

According to the present invention, the drone is a drone port having a takeoff and landing surface capable of taking off and landing.
The takeoff and landing surface is composed of a fixed top plate, and has a plurality of exhaust openings for allowing air on the upper surface to flow downward.
Further, a turning device located below the takeoff and landing surface and diverts the direction of the air flow downward from the exhaust opening to the outside in the horizontal direction .
A rectifying space for reducing the turbulence of the air flow is provided between the takeoff and landing surface and the turning device.
Provided is a drone port in which the vertical distance of the rectifying space is a distance at which the velocity distribution of the air flow flowing downward from the exhaust opening is smoothed, which is three times or more the maximum opening of the exhaust opening. NS.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the takeoff and landing surface has a plurality of exhaust openings that allow air on the upper surface to flow downward, and a member that limits the size and position of the exhaust openings (for example, a conventional opening / closing switching portion) is provided. Since there is no such thing, the opening ratio of the takeoff and landing surface can be set large.
With this configuration, most of the downwash (downflow of air) generated by the rotor blades of the drone can be discharged below the takeoff and landing surface.

Further, since the turning device is located below the takeoff and landing surface and directs the air flow flowing downward from the exhaust opening to the outside in the horizontal direction, it is possible to prevent the port support surface from bouncing upward.

Therefore, even if the drone's downwash has a high-speed region, the high-speed downwash is diverted horizontally outward through the exhaust opening and the turning device, with no or significantly less energy. The bounce of downwash can be significantly reduced.

It is a top view which shows the drone port of 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. It is the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 2 which shows the drone port of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 2 which shows the drone port of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 2 which shows the drone port of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 2 which shows the drone port of 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to common parts in each figure, and duplicate description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a drone port 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In this figure, the drone port 100 includes a takeoff and landing surface 10 and an outer wall 20.

In FIG. 1, the takeoff and landing surface 10 is located inside the outer wall 20 and has a horizontal plane on which the drone 1 can take off and land.
The takeoff and landing surface 10 has a fixed top plate 12 on which the drone 1 can take off and land. The fixed top plate 12 is preferably a single plate having a flat upper surface, but may be a plurality of plates that can be divided.

When the drone 1 is, for example, a logistics drone with a plane dimension of 1 m × 1 m or less and a payload of 2 to 10 kg, the top surface gradient of the fixed top plate 12 is within 3 degrees, the plane dimension is for example 1.2 m × 1.2 m, and the load capacity is withstand. Is set to be greater than or equal to the weight of the drone 1 and luggage (for example, 50 kg or more).
The size of the fixed top plate 12 is not limited to this example, and can be set arbitrarily.

Further, the planar shapes of the takeoff and landing surface 10 and the outer wall 20 are rectangular (square) in this example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this, and is rectangular, polygonal, circular, elliptical, other shapes, or these. It may be a combination.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
In this figure, the drone 1 is an unmanned multicopter that has a plurality of rotor blades 2, can be remotely controlled, and can fly stationary in the air.

The drone port 100 has a takeoff and landing surface 10 on which the drone 1 can take off and land.
The takeoff / landing surface 10 is composed of a fixed top plate 12, and the takeoff / landing surface 10 has a plurality of exhaust openings 13 for allowing air on the upper surface to flow downward. The exhaust opening 13 is preferably provided on the entire surface of the takeoff and landing surface 10, but may be provided on a part (for example, only the outer peripheral portion) thereof.

The drone port 100 further has a turning device 14 located below the takeoff and landing surface 10 that diverts the direction of the air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 to the outside in the horizontal direction.

In this example, the fixed top plate 12 is a wire mesh 12a or a punching metal 12a, and the takeoff and landing surface 10 is the upper surface thereof. Further, the exhaust opening 13 is a mesh of the wire mesh 12a or an opening of the punching metal 12a.
It is preferable that the exhaust opening 13 is uniformly provided on the entire surface of the takeoff and landing surface 10. Further, the higher the opening ratio of the takeoff and landing surface 10, the more preferably, for example, 60% or more.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a support member that supports the fixed top plate 12. The support member 15 is provided along the lower surface of the fixed top plate 12. The planar arrangement of the support member 15 may be a grid pattern, a chain pattern, a radial pattern, or the like.
The distance between the adjacent support members 15 is set as large as possible to support the drone 1 and the fixed top plate 12, and has an opening ratio larger than the opening ratio of the fixed top plate 12 (for example, 70% or more). With this configuration, the influence on the opening ratio of the fixed top plate 12 can be minimized.

In FIG. 2, the turning device 14 is a plurality of inclined plates 14a. The upper surface of the inclined plate 14a is inclined in the vertical direction in the drawing, and the direction of the air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 is deflected outward in the horizontal direction. "Diverting" means turning.

In FIG. 2, the drone port 100 has turbulence of air flow A2 and A3 between the fixed top plate 12 constituting the takeoff and landing surface 10 and the turning device 14, and between the turning device 14 and the port support surface 16 below the fixed top plate 12. The vertical distances L1 and L2 of the rectifying spaces V1 and V2 having the rectifying spaces V1 and V2 are the distances at which the velocity distributions of the air flows A2 and A3 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 are smoothed. Is preferable. The intervals L1 and L2 are preferably, for example, 3 to 5 times or more the maximum opening of the exhaust opening 13.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the drone port 100 further has an external exhaust port 22 that exhausts the air flow A3 laterally deflected horizontally by the turning device 14 to the outside.
The area of the external exhaust port 22 is preferably larger than the total area of the exhaust opening 13 as a whole. Further, the position of the external exhaust port 22 is preferably located in the direction of the air flow A3 deflected outward in the horizontal direction by the turning device 14.

In the above configuration, the downwash A1 (downflow of air) generated by the rotor 2 of the drone 1 has a velocity distribution that is large just below the rotor 2 and the velocity is relatively small in other places. In other words, there is a high speed region in the downwash A1 (downflow of air) generated by the rotor 2 of the drone 1.
Since the opening ratio of the takeoff / landing surface 10 (fixed top plate 12 in this example) is high, most of the downwash A1 flows downward (passes) through the takeoff / landing surface 10, and a part of the downwash A1 rebounds from the takeoff / landing surface 10 and rises. Become. The air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 is proportional to the opening ratio of the takeoff and landing surface 10 (in this example, the opening ratio of the fixed top plate 12 and the support member 15), and is, for example, 50% or more of the downwash A1.
The air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 is deflected horizontally outward by the turning device 14, and is exhausted to the outside through the external exhaust port 22.

According to the configuration of the first embodiment described above, the takeoff and landing surface 10 has a plurality of exhaust openings 13 that allow air on the upper surface to flow downward, and a member that limits the size and position of the exhaust openings 13 (for example, Since there is no conventional opening / closing switching unit), the opening ratio of the takeoff / landing surface 10 can be set large.
With this configuration, most of the downwash A1 (downflow of air) generated by the rotary blade 2 of the drone 1 can flow out (pass) below the takeoff and landing surface 10.

Further, since the turning device 14 is located below the takeoff and landing surface 10 and directs the air flow A2 that has flowed out (passed) downward from the exhaust opening 13 to the outside in the horizontal direction, the air flow that exits the turning device 14 diagonally. It is possible to prevent the port support surface 16 of A3 from bouncing upward.

Therefore, even if the downwash A1 (downflow of air) has a high-speed region, the high-speed downflow is deflected horizontally outward through the exhaust opening 13 and the turning device 14, so that there is no or significantly less energy. , The rebound of the downwash A1 can be significantly reduced.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the drone port 100 of the second embodiment of the present invention.
In this figure, the fixed top plate 12 is a grid plate 12b or a grid plate 12b, and the takeoff and landing surface 10 is the upper surface of the grid plate 12b or the grid plate 12b. Although the connecting plate 12b is a kind of the lattice plate 12b, it means that the shape of the exhaust opening 13 is an elongated rectangle.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

With this configuration, the opening ratio and bending rigidity of the fixed top plate 12 can be increased, and the support member 15 in FIG. 2 can be omitted or significantly reduced.
In this case, it is preferable that the lower end 4 of the support leg of the drone 1 has a horizontal member so as not to fit into the exhaust opening 13 of the lattice plate 12b or the connecting plate 12b.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the drone port 100 of the third embodiment of the present invention.
In this figure, the turning device 14 is a plurality of arc plates 14b. In this example, the arc plate 14b has an arc surface of 1/4 circle, and the direction of the air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 is deflected outward in the horizontal direction.
Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

With this configuration, the rectifying spaces V1 and V2 are omitted or reduced, and the direction of the air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 is set to a substantially horizontal air flow A3, and the air flow is smoothly exhausted to the outside from the external exhaust port 22. be able to.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the drone port 100 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, the takeoff and landing surface 10 has a drone support plate 18 that supports the drone 1 in a part thereof (central portion in this example).

In this example, the drone port 100 further includes a drone lifting device 24 that raises and lowers the drone support plate 18 between the takeoff and landing surface 10 and the ascending height H above the takeoff and landing surface 10.

The height ΔH from the takeoff / landing surface 10 of the ascending height H causes the rebound of the downwash A1 from the takeoff / landing surface 10 located below to the desired level with respect to the drone 1 taking off and landing on the drone support plate 18 of the ascending height H. It is better to set it so that it can be reduced.
The drone elevating device 24 is, for example, a linear acting cylinder, but may have other configurations such as a rack and a pinion, a chain and a sprocket.

With this configuration, even when the support leg 3 of the drone 1 is short, the drone 1 can take off and land on the drone support plate 18 having an ascending height H, so that the rebound of the downwash A1 with respect to the drone 1 can be reduced to a desired level. can.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the drone port 100 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, the turning device 14 has a turning plate 26 located below the takeoff and landing surface 10 and a turning space 28 provided between the turning plate 26 and the port support surface 16 below the turning plate 26.

The turning plate 26 has a function of allowing the air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 to flow downward from the central portion or the outer peripheral portion of the takeoff and landing surface 14. In this example, the turning plate 26 is a horizontal member separated from the takeoff and landing surface 10, and is provided with an opening for allowing the air flow A2 to flow downward at the central portion or the outer peripheral portion thereof. The upper surface of the turning plate 26 is formed in a smooth arc shape so as to divert the downward flow to the horizontal flow in this example. Note that this configuration is not essential, and the upper surface of the turning plate 26 may also be flat.

The turning space 28 has a function of suppressing the rebounding rising flow of the air flow A3 flowing downward from the turning plate 26 and deflecting the direction of the air flow A3 outward in the horizontal direction. The height H2 of the turning space 28 is set to a sufficient height that can suppress the rebounding upward flow of the air flow A3, for example, 2 m or more.

According to the configuration of the fifth embodiment, it is possible to prevent the port support surface 16 from bouncing upward.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the takeoff and landing surface 10 has a plurality of exhaust openings 13 for allowing air on the upper surface to flow downward, and a member that limits the size and position of the exhaust openings 13 ( For example, since there is no conventional opening / closing switching unit), the opening ratio of the takeoff / landing surface 10 can be set large.
With this configuration, most of the downwash A1 (downflow of air) generated by the rotary blade 2 of the drone 1 can flow out below the takeoff and landing surface 10.

Further, since the turning device 14 is located below the takeoff and landing surface 10 and deflects the direction of the air flow A2 flowing downward from the exhaust opening 13 to the outside in the horizontal direction, it is possible to prevent the port support surface 16 from bouncing upward. Can be done.

Therefore, even if the downwash A1 of the drone 1 has a high-speed region, the high-speed downflow is diverted horizontally outward through the exhaust opening 13 and the turning device 14, so that the downwash can be performed with no or significantly smaller energy. The bounce of A1 can be significantly reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

A1 downwash, A2, A3 airflow,
B1 rebound rising flow, H rising height, H2 turning space height, L1, L2 spacing,
V1, V2 rectified space, 1 drone, 2 rotors, 3 support legs,
4 Lower end of support leg, 10 Takeoff and landing surface, 12 Fixed top plate,
12a wire mesh or punching metal, 12b grid plate or connecting plate,
13 Exhaust opening, 14 Turning device, 14a Inclined plate,
15 support members, 16 port support surfaces, 18 drone support plates, 20 outer walls,
22 External exhaust port, 24 Drone lifting device, 26 Turning plate, 28 Turning space,
100 drone port

Claims (7)

A drone port that has a takeoff and landing surface that allows the drone to take off and land.
The takeoff and landing surface is composed of a fixed top plate, and has a plurality of exhaust openings for allowing air on the upper surface to flow downward.
Further, a turning device located below the takeoff and landing surface and diverts the direction of the air flow downward from the exhaust opening to the outside in the horizontal direction .
A rectifying space for reducing the turbulence of the air flow is provided between the takeoff and landing surface and the turning device.
The vertical interval of the rectifying space is a distance at which the velocity distribution of the air flow flowing downward from the exhaust opening is smoothed, and is three times or more the maximum opening of the exhaust opening . The drone port according to claim 1, further comprising an external exhaust port for exhausting the air flow outwardly deflected in the horizontal direction by the turning device. The drone port according to claim 1, further comprising a rectifying space between the turning device and a port support surface below the turning device to reduce the turbulence of the air flow. The drone port according to claim 1, wherein the takeoff and landing surface is an upper surface of a wire mesh, a punching metal, a lattice plate, or a connecting plate. The drone port according to claim 1, wherein the turning device is an inclined plate or an arc plate. The turning device includes a turning plate that allows the air flow flowing downward from the exhaust opening to flow downward from the central portion or the outer peripheral portion of the takeoff and landing surface.
The first aspect of the present invention has a turning space provided between the turning plate and a port support surface below the turning plate, which suppresses the rebounding rising flow of the air flow and diverts the direction of the air flow to the outside in the horizontal direction. The drone port listed. The takeoff and landing surface has a drone support plate that supports the drone in a part thereof.
The drone port according to claim 1, further comprising a drone lifting device for raising and lowering the drone support plate between the takeoff and landing surface and an ascending height above the takeoff and landing surface.

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