Retractable Solar Panel Accessory

grabcad

The designer has utilized additive manufacturing techniques to create a solar accessory for drones, which can be customized in terms of its arms and overall shape to fit different drone models. The accessory replaces the landing gear, minimizing weight gain, and features a cone-shaped design that accommodates flexible CIGS solar cells. When in flight, the solar panels and bottom portion of the accessory close together, while upon landing, they open up to expose the solar panels. This single 3D printed design, which would typically require multiple fabrication and assembly techniques using traditional manufacturing methods, features a pivoting and translating mechanism in the bottom portion. The model is presented with line fits, so tolerances must be adjusted before printing. The accessory can also be used to create small storage compartments within its bottom portion for delivering emergency medicine to remote areas, allowing the drone to recharge using solar panels before returning.