I-Corps: Continuum-deformable multi-copter-based uncrewed aerial system

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发具有垂直起降能力的可变形无人驾驶飞行器（UAV），可用于航空成像、监视和协同有效载荷运输应用。拟议中的技术将展示低空空域的长时间、节能和零排放飞行，以支持联合国到2050年实现航空零排放的目标。所提出的可变形无人机能够主动变形以通过狭窄通道。这种独特的能力可能有利于树冠下的操作，如作物传感和疾病检测。此外，提出的无人机为城市地区的有效载荷交付提供了一个解决方案。例如，它可用于在保健中心之间运输医疗用品，或在自然灾害期间向难以进入的地区运送商品和急救用品。其他应用包括工业应用、环境监测和国防相关应用，如战斗、监视和侦察行动。I-Corps的这个项目是基于一种可连续变形的多直升机无人机（UAV）或“CDCU”的发展，用于在低空空域运输有效载荷。该技术旨在积极改变其形状，使其能够适应现实世界中充满障碍物的运动空间。目前的多旋翼无人机在恶劣天气条件下难以应付大的扰动力。由于具有很强的可变形性，CDCU可以在恶劣的天气条件下弹性运行。除了剧烈的平面变形外，所提出的CDCU还可以在与该变形平面垂直的每个平面上提供必要的结构刚度，从而在恶劣天气下保持作业的稳健性。由于多四轴飞行器的设计，CDCU可以抵御故障并安全恢复。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a deformable uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) with vertical take-off and landing capabilities that may be used for aerial imaging, surveillance, and cooperative payload transport applications. The proposed technology will demonstrate long-duration, energy-efficient, and zero-emission flight at low-altitude airspace to support the United Nations’ goal of zero emissions in aviation by the year 2050. The proposed deformable UAV can aggressively deform to pass through narrow passages. This unique capability may benefit under-canopy operations, such as crop sensing and disease detection. In addition, the proposed UAV offers a solution for payload delivery in urban areas. For example, it may be used to transport medical supplies between health centers or carry commodities and first aid supplies into difficult-to-access areas during a natural disaster. Other applications include industrial applications, environmental monitoring, and defense-related applications such as combat, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a continuum-deformable multi-copter-based uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), or “CDCU,” to transport payloads at low altitude airspace. The proposed technology is designed to aggressively change its shape, which makes it resilient to conditions in real-world, obstacle-laden motion spaces. Current multi-copter UAVs struggle to cope with large disturbance forces during inclement weather conditions. By being aggressively deformable, the proposed CDCU resiliently operates in the presence of inclement weather conditions. In addition to aggressive planar deformation, the proposed CDCU is designed to offer the essential structural rigidity in every plane normal to this deformation plane for robustness of operations during inclement weather. Due to the multiple quadcopter design, the CDCU may be resilient against failure and recover safely.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.