UAV payload module camera assembly and retraction mechanism

• US 10,189,581 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Zwaan, John Peter, Belik, Pavel, Dimotakis, Manolis, D'Aquila, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US15/829,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20180086480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/10 for releasing or capturing UAVs by hand

Abstract

In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.

Claims

1. A UAV comprising, a housing,

a) a payload module comprising a deployable payload;

and

b) a retraction mechanism apparatus capable of moving the payload from a stowed position within a UAV to a deployed position extending out of the UAV, the retraction mechanism being configured such that the payload retracts back into the UAV upon contact with a landing surface if the payload is not retracted before the UAV contacts the landing surface so as to reduce at least one of;

(1) a probability, or (2) a severity of damage to a deployed payload upon landing.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the UAV is a UAV without landing gear.

3. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the UAV comprises a skid pad for landing on hard surfaces.

4. The UAV of claim 3, wherein the UAV is an amphibious UAV.

5. The UAV of claim 4, wherein the UAV is a hand launched UAV.

6. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the UAV is an amphibious UAV.

7. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the UAV is a hand launched UAV.

8. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the payload module comprises a biasing member to bias the deployable payload out of the housing.

9. The UAV of claim 8, wherein the retraction mechanism apparatus comprises a flexible drawing member coupled to the deployable payload.

10. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the flexible drawing member is not capable of exerting a pushing force on the deployable payload.

11. A method in a UAV comprising:

a) applying a biasing force to a payload to bias a payload out of the UAV;

b) retaining the payload within the UAV using a flexible retraction mechanism; and

c) extending the payload from the UAV using the flexible retraction mechanism so as to allow the biasing force to bias the payload from the UAV, the flexible retraction mechanism being capable of allowing the payload to retract within the UAV upon contact with a landing surface if the payload is not retracted before the UAV contacts the landing surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein extending the payload comprises extending the payload from the fuselage.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

a) launching the UAV;

b) landing the UAV without using landing gear; and

c) wherein extending the payload comprises extending the payload after launching and before landing the UAV.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

a) launching the UAV and extending the payload from the UAV; and

b) landing the UAV without using landing gear.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein landing the UAV comprises landing the UAV on water.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein landing the UAV comprises landing the UAV on land.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein launching the UAV comprises launching the UAV by hand.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein landing comprises using a skid pad.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

a) launching the UAV by hand; and

b) landing the UAV on water.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

a) launching the UAV by hand; and

b) landing the UAV on land.