Aerial vehicle center of gravity adjustment
First Claim
1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
a power module coupled to the frame;
a payload engagement element coupled to the frame for engaging and disengaging a payload; and
a memory coupled to a processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to at least;
determine a first center of gravity, a first moment of inertia, or a first mass distribution of a combined payload and the aerial vehicle;
establish a first set of flight controls specifying operating parameters for the aerial vehicle while the payload is engaged by the payload engagement element of the aerial vehicle, wherein;
the first set of flight controls are based at least in part on the first center of gravity, the first moment of inertia, or the first mass distribution; and
the first set of flight controls limit at least one of a maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or a speed of the aerial vehicle compared to a default set of flight controls in which at least one of the maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or the speed of the aerial vehicle is not limited;
cause the aerial vehicle to operate according to the first set of flight controls while the payload is engaged by the aerial vehicle;
determine that the payload has been disengaged by the payload engagement element of the aerial vehicle; and
in response to a determination that the payload has been disengaged, cause the aerial vehicle to operate according to the default set of flight controls, the default set of flight controls based at least in part on a default center of gravity, a default moment of inertia, or a default mass distribution of the aerial vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes a system and method for determining the center of gravity of a payload engaged by an automated aerial vehicle and adjusting components of the automated aerial vehicle and/or the engagement location with the payload so that the center of gravity of the payload is within a defined position with respect to the center of gravity of the automated aerial vehicle. Adjusting the center of gravity to be within a defined position improves the efficiency, maneuverability and safety of the automated aerial vehicle. In some implementations, the stability of the payload may also be determined to ensure that the center of gravity does not change or shift during transport due to movement of an item of the payload.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a frame; a power module coupled to the frame; a payload engagement element coupled to the frame for engaging and disengaging a payload; and a memory coupled to a processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to at least; determine a first center of gravity, a first moment of inertia, or a first mass distribution of a combined payload and the aerial vehicle; establish a first set of flight controls specifying operating parameters for the aerial vehicle while the payload is engaged by the payload engagement element of the aerial vehicle, wherein; the first set of flight controls are based at least in part on the first center of gravity, the first moment of inertia, or the first mass distribution; and the first set of flight controls limit at least one of a maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or a speed of the aerial vehicle compared to a default set of flight controls in which at least one of the maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or the speed of the aerial vehicle is not limited; cause the aerial vehicle to operate according to the first set of flight controls while the payload is engaged by the aerial vehicle; determine that the payload has been disengaged by the payload engagement element of the aerial vehicle; and in response to a determination that the payload has been disengaged, cause the aerial vehicle to operate according to the default set of flight controls, the default set of flight controls based at least in part on a default center of gravity, a default moment of inertia, or a default mass distribution of the aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-implemented method to alter an operation of an aerial vehicle, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, determining a combined center of gravity of a payload and an aerial vehicle; establishing a first set of flight controls for the aerial vehicle while the payload is engaged by the aerial vehicle, wherein; the first set of flight controls are established based at least in part on the combined center of gravity; and the first set of flight controls limit at least one of a maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or a speed of the aerial vehicle compared to a default set of flight controls in which at least one of the maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or the speed of the aerial vehicle is not limited; instructing the aerial vehicle to operate according to the first set of flight controls while the payload is engaged by the aerial vehicle; and instructing the aerial vehicle to operate according to the default set of flight controls while the payload is not engaged by the aerial vehicle, wherein the default set of flight controls is determined based at least in part on a center of gravity of the aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system to transport a payload, comprising:
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an aerial vehicle having a frame and a payload engagement element coupled to the frame and configured to engage the payload; and a memory coupled to a processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to at least; receive a first set of flight controls, wherein the first set of flight controls limit at least one of a maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or a speed of the aerial vehicle compared to a default set of flight controls in which at least one of the maneuverability of the aerial vehicle or the speed of the aerial vehicle is not limited; cause the aerial vehicle to aerially navigate with the payload according to the first set of flight controls; determine that the payload has been disengaged by the aerial vehicle; and cause the aerial vehicle to aerially navigate without the payload according to the default set of flight controls. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification