Drone Supercharger

And here is, this is our final video just some hours before the end of the contest!

Here  is the final design, you can download it  here:

The Cylinder has now a steeper motor and a maltese cross system so it can be rotated and inmovilized using the same system.

Now the shovels that push the tabs have an IR sensor to detect the proximity 

Lowering the battery

Fermin has been working on how to improve the centering system - maybe the most important issue once the drone is landed. As you can see in the pictures, now there are end of carriage detectors. We have moved from belt to spindles, in this way both pushers can move independently. There are also new sensors to help steppers to be positioned.  As one can see, some parts can be 3d-printed.

1: Pushers // 2: Longitudinal steppers. // 3: spindles // 4: Central piece to host bearings // 5: Protector

We have been working in battery connectors improvements. The main issue is that we need a robust system  to manage tension and LiPo charge balancing. One has to have in mind that there will be lot of  connetions and un-connection in the platform life.    

                  Connector detail

Box with rail and connectors (multipurpose - both cylinder and multi-drone)

Cylinder with batteries

Here is the promised video. Landing complete sequence. Yet many things to be re-thinked, but one can have an idea of what we want to achieve. 

Here are some pictures of our drone-port. The main purpose of this drone-port is to move the drone - after it lands - to the exact point where the arm can replace the battery. There will be a video tomorrow.

Here is the overall picture of the platform. The arm to replace the battery (and its support) in the left.

The bottom of the platform

Just when the dron lands.

two bars move (thanks to stepper motors) to catch the drone

Some details

Last monday we were talking on how to release the battery, to choose and discard all the concepts of design that we had been thinking about the system of extraction of the battery, we evaluate their pros and cons. And we determine that a cam that rotates by moving safety tabs, releasing  is the most optimal way.

Step 1: the arm in which the cam is at its extreme, expands towards the drone, this movement is parallel to the drone's landing zone.

Step 2: the cam reaches the back of the drone.

Step 3: the cam rotates and displaces the safety tabs.

Step 4: the arm shrinks to its shortest position by removing the  the battery (it's inside a case).

Step 5: the  arm descends to the cylinder plant, which is where the batteries are recharged. This cylinder consists of slots.

Step 6: In the same way that it get a battery from the drone, it deposits it in a cilynder empty slot.

Step 7: the cylinder rotates to the position of a new battery with energy (already charged)

step 8: the arm expands and extracts the battery, (as in step 2.3 etc.)

Step 9: the arm goes up  where the drone is waiting for the battery with fresh energy.

Step 10: the arm is expanded to introduce battery, which is attached to the cam.

Step 11: the cam rotates, causing  to fix the battery to the drone, giving it tied to the drone.

Step 12: the arm shrinks decoupling completely from the drone. That giving this with a charged battery.

We're now evaluating which technologies are more viable for the communication between stations. 

We want to be able to draw drone flight plans so we can exchange information about reports, take off, etc. between stations. Help is welcome.

We're thinking about the different uses thar Drone Supercharger will have in different scenarios, including country and cities and how all of this can modify our design.