Systems and methods for UAV docking

• US 10,059,467 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2015
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, Mingyu
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US14/717,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/22 for handling aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/93 for use on a land or nautical vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0684 on a moving platform, e.g. aircraft carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for docking an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a vehicle. The UAV may be able to distinguish a companion vehicle from other vehicles in the area and vice versa. The UAV may take off and/or land on the vehicle. The UAV may be used to capture images and stream the images live to a display within the vehicle. The vehicle may control the UAV. The UAV may be in communication with the companion vehicle while in flight.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) housing apparatus comprising:

a mounting component configured to attach the UAV housing apparatus to a vehicle;

a connection interface configured to form a connection with a UAV that limits relative movement between the UAV and the UAV housing apparatus, wherein the connection interface is adjustable by altering one or more components of the connection interface to accommodate different types of UAVs; and

a cover configured to at least partially enclose the UAV when the UAV is connected to the connection interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting component is configured to removably attach to the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection interface provides a magnetic connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection interface is configured to prevent detachment of the UAV and the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling between 30 mph and 100 mph.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection interface permits charging of the UAV while the UAV is connected to the landing connection interface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection interface permits interchange of data between the UAV and the vehicle via the connection interface while the UAV is connected to the landing connection interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to completely enclose the UAV when the UAV is connected to the connection interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is coupled to an actuator configured to drive the cover between an open position and a closed position while the vehicle is in motion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cover is capable of functioning as a communication device when the cover is in the open position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication device is a satellite dish and used to communicate with the UAV.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to (1) generate a signal to close the cover when the UAV has landed and connected to the connection interface, or (2) generate a signal to open the cover when the UAV is about to take off from the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is powered by solar power.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover stores energy used to charge and/or power the UAV when the UAV is connected to the connection interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection interface is configured to form a connection with multiple UAVs simultaneously, and wherein the cover is configured to at least partially enclose multiple UAVs simultaneously.

15. A vehicle forming a platform from which an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may take off or land, said vehicle comprising:

the UAV housing apparatus of claim 1; and

one or more propulsion units configured to propel the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the cover is a roof of the vehicle that is capable of opening and closing.

17. A method of housing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:

providing the UAV housing apparatus of claim 1;

detecting a UAV status; and

varying or maintaining cover position based on the UAV status.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the different types of UAVs have different dimensions, flying capacities, battery life, propulsion unit configurations, or connection interfaces.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein altering the one or more components of the connection interface comprises changing a dimension or a position of the one or more components.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein altering the one or more components of the connection interface comprises swapping out different types of components.