The main working principle behind HE.RO is to reduce the downward force acting on the drone by having an upward force (upthrust) to cancel some of the drone’s weight out, hence reducing the battery power needed to lift it up.
Our team decided to use helium as it produces the very upthrust we are looking for. It is also very cost-effective and easy to manipulate.
This idea was fresh and challenging as it is relatively new, with little research done on this topic. While RC blimps and devices that use helium to float already exist in the market, they are typically very expensive. Furthermore, these devices tend to be one-directional in terms of movement – only able to move forwards/backwards and hence are rather inefficient in maneuvering. Thus, we targeted this gap of high cost with limited maneuverability.
Our invention – HE.RO – is an attachment that allows any drone to harness upthrust from helium. To do so, helium balloons will be attached onto the drones via our own unique creation – a gyroframe.
Our gyroframe allows helium balloons to be attached without getting tangled up in the propellers. It also facilitates optimal anchoring and positioning of the balloons to achieve uniform upthrust. Most importantly, the double axis mechanism behind it eliminate the complicated moments and forces acting on the drone during flight, allowing the drones to retain their natural flying fundamentals while reaping the benefits from the helium. A more in-depth explanation on the gyroframe is available under the Design Specifications tab. 🙂
HE.RO is not only much cheaper alternative to commercially available products but also much more versatile as drones can still retain their maneuverability and usual properties whilst gaining enhanced power-saving capabilities.