Unmanned aerial vehicle protective frame configuration
First Claim
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (“
- UAV”
) frame, comprising;
a hub;
a first motor arm extending from the hub in a first direction;
a second motor arm extending from the hub in a second direction;
a third motor arm extending from the hub in a third direction;
a fourth motor arm extending from the hub in a fourth direction; and
a perimeter protective barrier coupled to at least one of the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, or the fourth motor arm; and
wherein the hub, the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, the fourth motor arm, and the perimeter protective barrier are formed as a monolithic uni-body; and
wherein the perimeter protective barrier completely surrounds the hub, the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, and the fourth motor arm, and wherein the perimeter protective barrier includes a vertical component extending downward from the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, and the fourth motor arm.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that includes a frame that provides both structural support for the UAV and protection for foreign objects that may come into contact with the UAV. The UAV may have any number of lifting motors. For example, the UAV may include four lifting motors (also known as a quad-copter), eight lifting motors (octo-copter), etc. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of horizontal flight, the UAV may also include one or more pushing motor and propeller assemblies that are oriented at approximately ninety degrees to one or more of the lifting motors. When the UAV is moving horizontally, the pushing motor(s) may be engaged and the pushing propeller(s) will aid in the horizontal propulsion of the UAV.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (“
- UAV”
) frame, comprising;a hub; a first motor arm extending from the hub in a first direction; a second motor arm extending from the hub in a second direction; a third motor arm extending from the hub in a third direction; a fourth motor arm extending from the hub in a fourth direction; and a perimeter protective barrier coupled to at least one of the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, or the fourth motor arm; and wherein the hub, the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, the fourth motor arm, and the perimeter protective barrier are formed as a monolithic uni-body; and wherein the perimeter protective barrier completely surrounds the hub, the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, and the fourth motor arm, and wherein the perimeter protective barrier includes a vertical component extending downward from the first motor arm, the second motor arm, the third motor arm, and the fourth motor arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- UAV”
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4. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
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a monolithic uni-body frame including; a hub positioned near a center of the UAV; a plurality of motor arms, each motor arm having a first end and a second end, each first end coupled to the hub; and a protective perimeter barrier completely surrounding the hub and the plurality of motor arms, the protective perimeter barrier including a vertical component extending away from the plurality of motor arms; a plurality of motors coupled to respective motor arms of the monolithic uni-body frame; and a plurality of propellers, each propeller coupled to a motor of the plurality of motors, wherein the plurality of propellers is encompassed by the protective perimeter barrier of the monolithic uni-body frame. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An unmanned aerial vehicle (“
- UAV”
), comprising;a frame including a first monolithic frame component and a second monolithic frame component, the frame including; a hub positioned near a center of the UAV; a plurality of motor arms, each motor arm having a first end and a second end, each first end coupled to the hub; and a protective perimeter barrier completely surrounding the hub and the plurality of motor arms, the protective perimeter barrier including a vertical component extending away from the plurality of motor arms; a first plurality of motors coupled to the first monolithic frame component; a first plurality of propellers, each of the first plurality of propellers coupled to a motor of the first plurality of motors; a second plurality of motors coupled to the second monolithic frame component; a second plurality of propellers, each of the second plurality of propellers coupled to a motor of the second plurality of motors; and wherein the first monolithic frame component is coupled to the second monolithic frame component such that the first plurality of propellers and the second plurality of propellers are positioned within a perimeter of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- UAV”
Specification