Infill Optimized Supply Container for VTOL Drone

Last crawled date: 1 year, 11 months ago

Designed on Solid Edge and rendered using Keyshot. This is a simple yet highly effective supply container with rubber grip type cushion on all four sides to prevent damage to the container. The container is attached to a parachute to allow smooth landing. Simplistic design yet innovation in the Fused Deposition method leads to a unique and effective container with a long life.

I have also uploaded a scaled up version of the container which will be able to easily carry 30 to 40 pounds.

Innovation

A) We have used variable infill percentage in our design to optimize and strengthen our container. We couldn't show this through CAD but we have print the side touching the ground with a high infill of 80 percent and we will gradually lower it to 20 as we go up. This will ensure two things
1) The landing side since heavier will always remain down in a stable equilibrium. So even when winds blow and try to topple it. It comes back to its original position
2) It will ensure a strong shock absorbent bottom layer and this is important as it comes in contact with the ground.
(TO OBSERVE THE INFILL OPTIMIZATION CHECK THE MP4 FILE UPLOADED. IT CONSISTS OF A VIDEO SHOWING HOW THE INFILL INCREASES AS THE LAYERS INCREASE. AT THE END OF THE VIDEO THE OPTION THROUGH WHICH THIS IS POSSIBLE IS HIGHLIGHTED. IT IS DONE ON CURA SOFTWARE.)

B) Interference fit screw which will hold the lid firmly. It can only be pulled out by putting your fingernails in the slot and pulling

C) No compartments inside the container. This is done to ensure more space to pack stuff. Large space means the density of the supply inside is around 800 kg/m3 (if we carry max 40 lbs) This leads to an overall density of less than 1000 kg/m3 (Density of water)

D) Large space ensures that the supply will always float on water. Along with being airtight (due to design of the lid, which covers the top and a little of the side) if the supply floats on water it can easily be retrieved in case of any landing mishaps.

E) Rubber cushioning that strikes the ground first and absorbs most of the shock

F) Easy print ability, no complex geometries due to generative design.

G) Low print time of total 18 hours (one printer)

How it is contained in the VTOL Drone
It is contained inside the fuselage and held by a rope(thread) a little above the flaps. As soon as the location is reached the thread is pulled by means of an attached motor and the container hits the flaps opening it. The flaps are connected to a spring, and only extend under the weight of the container. After the container falls, the spring causes the flaps to snap back.