Drone assistance apparatus with charging system and method

• US 10,336,202 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2017
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Panopoulos
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Panopoulos
• Inventors: Panopoulos, Peter J., Ramsey, Gordon Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/442,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20170166067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/59 with forced flow of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 : by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 : in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A drone receiving apparatus is provided including a landing area including a platform, a lighting system, and/or a surface on which a drone is receivable, a charging plate for providing electrical power to charge the drone received by the landing area, and a communication system by which a signal is communicable to exchange data with the drone that is within a communicable proximity to the communication system. A method to receive a drone is also provided.

Claims

1. A drone receiving apparatus comprising:

a landing area on which a drone is receivable, the landing area comprising a platform, a lighting system, and/or a surface;

a charging plate for providing electrical power to the drone received by the landing area;

a communication system;

a signal communicable by the communication system to exchange data with the drone that is within a communicable proximity to the communication system;

wherein the drone is communicable with additional drones to exchange the data at least partially relating to status to coordinate operation of the drone; and

wherein the data comprises diagnostic information and/or charging information relating to the drone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises a homing signal to communicate location information about the drone and the landing area, wherein the homing signal is detectable by the drone, and wherein GPS coordinates are includable by the location information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the homing signal is temporarily disabled for the landing area that has received the drone, and wherein the homing signal is selectively enabled for the landing area that has not received the drone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein specifications comprising voltage levels and current levels are communicable by the drone to the communication system, and wherein the voltage levels and the current levels of the charging plate are adjustable to accommodate the drone in response to at least part of the specifications received from the drone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform is installable on a light pole, the lighting system, and/or the surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging plate provides the electrical power at least partially via induction.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism to interface with power couplings between the charging plate and the drone that is located on the landing area; and

wherein the drone is temporarily lockable and/or attracted to the charging plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism comprises magnetic, electromechanical, and/or mechanical docking components.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the landing area is detectable by a sensor of the drone and/or a communication circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the landing area comprises:

a sensor and/or a communication circuit to detect when the drone has been received by the landing area and affect operation of the charging plate; and

a charge level of the drone being intermittently determinable to affect whether the drone is provided the electrical power to at least partially charge the drone.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least part of the data is transmittable using a communication circuit.

12. A drone receiving apparatus comprising:

a landing area comprising a platform installable on a light pole, lighting system, and/or a surface on which a drone is receivable;

a charging plate for providing electrical power to the drone received by the landing area;

a signal communicable by a communication system to exchange data with the drone that is within a communicable proximity to the communication system;

wherein the signal comprises a homing signal to communicate location information about the drone and the landing area, wherein the homing signal is detectable by the drone, and wherein GPS coordinates are includable by the location information;

wherein specifications comprising voltage levels and current levels are communicable by the drone to the communication system; and

wherein the voltage levels and the current levels of the charging plate are adjustable to accommodate the drone in response to at least part of the specifications received from the drone.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the drone is communicable with additional drones to exchange the data at least partially relating to status to coordinate operation of the drone and the charging plate;

wherein the data comprises diagnostic information, charging information, and/or identifying information relating to the drone; and

wherein at least part of the data indicates whether the landing area is available to receive the drone.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a locking mechanism to interface with power couplings between the charging plate and the drone that is located on the landing area;

wherein the drone is temporarily lockable to and being engaged with the charging plate; and

wherein the locking mechanism comprises magnetic, electromechanical, and/or mechanical docking components.

15. A method for receiving a drone comprising:

(a) communicating a signal by a communication system to exchange data with the drone that is within a communicable proximity to the communication system;

(b) receiving the drone by a landing area comprising a platform, lighting system, and/or a surface;

(c) selectively providing electrical power to the drone received by the landing area via a charging plate;

(d) communicating specifications comprising voltage levels and current levels by the drone to the communication system;

(e) adjusting the charging plate to accommodate the drone in response to at least part of the specifications received from the drone; and

wherein the signal comprises a homing signal to communicate location information about the drone and the landing area, wherein the homing signal is detectable by the drone, and wherein GPS coordinates are includable by the location information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the platform is installable on a light pole or lighting system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising after step (b):

(f) interfacing with power couplings between the charging plate and the drone that is located on the landing area via a locking mechanism;

(g) providing the electric power to the drone via the charging plate;

(h) disengaging from the power couplings between the charging plate and the drone that is located on the landing area via the locking mechanism; and

wherein the drone is temporarily lockable and/or attracted to the charging plate.