Methods for launching and landing an unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 10,101,748 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• 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): Nguyen, Tan Q
• Application Number:
  US15/608,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20170315562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 701 4, 701 11, 701 15
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/00 Propulsion; Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/20 specially adapted for uneven terrain
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/10 for releasing or capturing UAVs by hand
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/30 with arrangements for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0669 specially adapted for vertical take-off
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for launching and landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including multi-rotor aircrafts. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein utilize positional change of the UAV, visual signal, or other means to effect the launch or landing. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are user friendly, particularly to amateur UAV users lacking practice of operating a UAV.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

one or more rotor blades;

one or more holding members attached to a body of the UAV, wherein the one or more holding members are configured to be held by a human hand;

one or more sensors configured to detect a positional change of the UAV caused by a release of the human hand from the one or more holding members; and

one or more processors on-board the UAV configured to provide an actuation signal in response to the detected positional change caused by the release of the human hand from the one or more holding members, wherein the actuation signal is configured to direct the UAV to generate a lift and/or thrust to maintain the UAV in an airborne state.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the actuation signal is configured to cause the UAV to hover.

3. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the one or more holding members are further configured to be used as a landing support for the UAV.

4. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the positional change comprises a change in orientation of the UAV.

5. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the positional change comprises a change in velocity or a change in acceleration of the UAV.

6. The UAV of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are configured to provide the actuation signal in response to a detected change in a vertical velocity of the UAV to close to zero.

7. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the positional change comprises a change in location of the UAV with respect to a reference object.

8. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an inertial sensor, GPS receiver, compass, magnetometer, altimeter, or infrared sensor, or a visual sensor.

9. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to analyze the positional change of the UAV detected by the one or more sensors.

10. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the analysis comprises comparing the positional change of the UAV against a threshold or a predetermined value.

11. The UAV of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to provide the actuation signal when the positional change of the UAV has reached the threshold or predetermined value.

12. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

one or more rotor blades;

one or more holding members attached to a body of the UAV, wherein the one or more holding members are configured to be held by a human hand;

one or more sensors configured to detect a release of the one or more holding members by the human hand, or a freefall motion or state of the UAV; and

one or more processors on-board the UAV configured to provide an actuation signal in response to the detected release, or in response to the detected freefall motion or state of the UAV, wherein the actuation signal is configured to direct the UAV to generate a lift and/or thrust to maintain the UAV in an airborne state.

13. The UAV of claim 12, wherein the one or more holding members are further configured to be used as a landing support for the UAV.

14. The UAV of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors are provided on the one or more holding members.

15. The UAV of claim 14, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor.

16. The UAV of claim 12, wherein the actuation signal is configured to cause the UAV to hover.

17. The UAV of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors are further configured to detect contacting of the UAV by a human hand.

18. The UAV of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to decelerate or stop rotation of the one or more rotor blades in response to the detected contact of the UAV by the human hand.

19. The UAV of claim 18, wherein the one or more processors are configured to decelerate or stop rotation of the one or more rotor blades in response to the detected contact of the UAV by the human hand after the contact is sustained for a predetermined time period.

20. The UAV of claim 19, wherein the predetermined time period is equal to or less than 1 second.