Systems and methods for foldable arms

• US 10,202,191 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2015
• 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: Wu, Xumin, Wu, Xiaolong, Lee, Sungki, Ao, Jiyuan, Feng, Zhuang
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kreiner, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US15/889,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20180170541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/30 Parts of fuselage relatively movable to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• 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 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/291 Detachable rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/30 Supply or distribution of electrical power
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises a central body, a plurality of arms that extend out from the central body, and a plurality of rotors. Each arm has one or more joints that segment the arm into a stem portion proximal to the central body and one or more branch portions distal to the central body. The one or more joints permit the one or more branch portions to move horizontally relative to the stem portion between an extended state and a compacted state. The one or more branch portions are arranged substantially parallel to a perimeter edge of the central body in the compacted state. Each rotor in the plurality is attached to the one or more branch portions.

Claims

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

a central body;

a plurality of arms that extend out from the central body, each arm having one or more joints that segment the arm into a stem portion proximal to the central body and two branch portions distal to the central body, wherein the one or more joints permit the one or more branch portions to move horizontally relative to the stem portion between an extended state and a compacted state, wherein each of the two branch portions of each arm is arranged substantially parallel to a different perimeter edge of the central body in the compacted state; and

a plurality of rotors, each rotor in the plurality attached to the branch portions of each arm.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the two branch portions of each arm form a Y-shape with the corresponding stem portion when the branch portions are in the extended state.

3. The UAV of claim 1, wherein an angle between each branch portion and the corresponding stem portion is greater when the branch portion is in the extended state than when the branch portion is in the compacted state.

4. The UAV of claim 1, wherein movement of the branch portions between the extended state and the compacted state includes vertical motion relative to the central body.

5. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the one or more joints of each arm collectively lock a position of the branch portions of the arm relative to the corresponding stem portion in the extended state.