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

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种可变形的无人驾驶飞行器(UAV)，具有垂直起降能力，可用于航空成像、监视和合作有效载荷运输应用。这项拟议的技术将展示在低空空域进行长时间、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。拟议中的可变形无人机可以主动变形以通过狭窄的通道。这种独特的能力可能有利于冠层下的作业，如作物传感和疾病检测。此外，拟议的无人机为城市地区的有效载荷交付提供了一种解决方案。例如，它可能被用来在卫生中心之间运送医疗用品，或者在自然灾害期间将商品和急救用品运送到难以到达的地区。其他应用包括工业应用、环境监测以及与国防相关的应用，如战斗、监视和侦察行动。这个i-Corps项目是基于开发一种可连续变形的基于多直升机的无人驾驶飞行器(UAV)，即“CDCU”，用于在低空空域运输有效载荷。这项拟议的技术旨在积极改变其形状，使其对现实世界中充满障碍的运动空间的条件具有弹性。目前的多直升机无人机在恶劣天气条件下努力应对大干扰力量。由于具有极强的变形能力，拟议的CDCU可在恶劣天气条件下灵活运行。除了积极的平面变形，建议的CDCU的设计是为了在每个垂直于该变形平面的平面上提供必要的结构刚性，以便在恶劣天气下运行的健壮性。由于多架四轴飞行器的设计，CDCU可能对故障具有弹性并安全恢复。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优点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.