Active tether control for a tethered multirotor
| DWPI Title: Control system for tensioning active tether for multi-rotor unmanned aerial system e.g. multirotor drones, has servomotor driving cable reel that is mounted in frame for spooling tether in response to rotation of servomotor, where cable reel is rotated by servomotor to maintain tension on spring |
| Abstract: A control system and method for tensioning an active tether for a multirotor unmanned aerial system is provided. The control system includes a tensioning pulley and a tensioning spring. The tensioning spring is arranged to generate a variable tension force on the active tether. A transducer is connected adjacent to the tensioning spring to sense a linear displacement position of the tensioning pulley and to transmit a position signal to a controller. The position signal is proportional to the linear displacement position. A servomotor in communication with the controller receives a control signal from the controller in response to the position signal. The servomotor drives a cable reel. The cable reel is rotatably mounted in the frame for spooling the tether in response to rotation of the servomotor. The cable reel is rotated by the servomotor to maintain a predetermined tension on the tensioning spring. |
| Use: Control system for tensioning an active tether for a multi-rotor unmanned aerial system (UAS) such as multirotor drones, self powered autonomous flying vehicles, or tethered aerial vehicles. |
| Advantage: The system automatically adjusts the tension through the cable reel and the pulley assembly. |
| Novelty: The system (10) has a tensioning spring arranged to generate variable tension force on an active tether (12). A transducer is connected adjacent to the spring to sense a linear displacement position of a tensioning pulley (32) and to transmit a position signal to a controller. A servomotor (56) is in communication with the controller for receiving a control signal from the controller in response to the position signal. The servomotor drives a cable reel (14) that is rotatably mounted in a frame (16) for spooling the tether in response to rotation of the servomotor. The cable reel is rotated by the servomotor to maintain predetermined tension on the tensioning spring. |
| Filed: 5/15/2020 |
| Application Number: US16875010A |
| Tech ID: SD 15010.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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