Stackable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system and portable hangar system therefor
First Claim
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:
- a hangar structure comprising mounting hardware to mount on a host platform, the hangar structure further comprising a charging circuit and a communications circuit; and
a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) arranged in a stack, a particular UAV of the plurality of UAVs comprising;
a battery;
first electrical contacts on a first surface, the first electrical contacts configured to receive power to charge the battery from electrical contacts of an additional UAV located below the particular UAV in the stack and in physical contact with the particular UAV; and
second electrical contacts on a second surface, the second electrical contacts configured to provide power to electrical contacts of another UAV that is located above the particular UAV in the stack and in physical contact with the particular UAV.
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Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprises a hangar structure configurable to mount on a host platform. The hangar structure comprises electrical circuits comprising a charging circuit and a communications circuit. The UAV system further comprises a plurality of stackable UAVs. The plurality of stackable UAVs comprise respective batteries and control circuits. The plurality of stackable UAVs are configured to cooperate with the charging circuit to charge the batteries and to cooperate with the communications circuit to communicate with the control circuits while the plurality of stackable UAVs are in a stacked configuration within the hangar structure.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:
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a hangar structure comprising mounting hardware to mount on a host platform, the hangar structure further comprising a charging circuit and a communications circuit; and a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) arranged in a stack, a particular UAV of the plurality of UAVs comprising; a battery; first electrical contacts on a first surface, the first electrical contacts configured to receive power to charge the battery from electrical contacts of an additional UAV located below the particular UAV in the stack and in physical contact with the particular UAV; and second electrical contacts on a second surface, the second electrical contacts configured to provide power to electrical contacts of another UAV that is located above the particular UAV in the stack and in physical contact with the particular UAV. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hangar structure comprising:
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an enclosure having a door selectively defining an opening configured to enable a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to take flight; mounting hardware, the mounting hardware configured to mount the hangar structure on a host platform; a support surface configured to support the plurality of UAVs in a stack; and a charging circuit, the charging circuit comprising a set of electrical contacts on the support surface, the set of electrical contacts configured to provide power to each UAV of the stack of the plurality of UAVs via first electrical contacts of a first UAV located on a bottom of the stack, wherein the first UAV comprises the first electrical contacts on a first surface of first UAV and second electrical contacts on a second surface of the first UAV, the first electrical contacts configured to receive power from the set of electrical contacts on the support surface, and the second electrical contacts configured to provide power to electrical contacts of a second UAV that is located above the first UAV in the stack and in physical contact with the first UAV. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20)
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16. A method comprising:
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charging a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of a plurality of UAVs stacked in a hangar structure by applying power to first electrical contacts of the first UAV, wherein the first UAV is configured to charge a second UAV of the plurality of UAVs via second electrical contacts of the first UAV that are in physical contact with electrical contacts of the second UAV; commanding, via a communications circuit of the hangar structure, the first UAV to take flight; recalling the first UAV to land in the hangar structure; and receiving the first UAV in the hangar structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification