Pod launch and landing system for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

• US 10,336,470 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Fisher, Christopher Eugene, Mukherjee, Jason Sidharthadev, Lott, William Arden
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Richard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Vicente
• Application Number:
  US15/042,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20170144776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/02 having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/005 Protective coverings for aircraft not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/24 Adaptations of turntables
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, including: a UAV pod having an interior; and a telescoping UAV landing surface disposed in the interior of the UAV pod; where the telescoping UAV landing surface may translate up toward a top opening of the UAV pod, translate down into an interior of the UAV pod, or rotate relative to the UAV pod.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

translating a rotatable UAV landing surface up above one or more data regions disposed on a surface proximate the rotatable UAV landing surface, wherein each of the one or more data regions has an electrically conductive surface, and wherein a UAV is resting on the rotatable UAV landing surface, the UAV comprising one or more electrically conductive data contact points;

rotating the rotatable UAV landing surface to align the one or more electrically conductive data contact points of the UAV with the at least one of the one or more data regions; and

translating the rotatable UAV landing surface to lower the UAV to make contact between the one or more electrically conductive data contact points of the UAV and the at least one of the one or more data regions.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

launching the UAV from the rotatable UAV landing surface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein translating the rotatable UAV landing surface to lower the UAV further comprises:

contacting one or more electrically conductive power contact points of the UAV with one or more power regions, wherein the one or more power regions are disposed on the surface proximate the rotatable UAV landing surface, and wherein each of the one or more power regions has an electrically conductive surface.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

translating the rotatable UAV landing surface up above one or more power regions disposed on the surface proximate the rotatable UAV landing surface, wherein each of the one or more power regions has an electrically conductive surface, and wherein the UAV comprises one or more electrically conductive data contact points;

rotating the rotatable UAV landing surface to align the one or more electrically conductive power contact points of the UAV with the at least one of the one or more power regions; and

translating the rotatable UAV landing surface to lower the UAV to make contact between the one or more electrically conductive power contact points of the UAV and the at least one of the one or more power regions.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

rotating, prior to launching the UAV, the rotatable UAV landing surface to account for crosswind.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein rotating the rotatable UAV landing surface further comprises:

generating, by at least one motor of the UAV, a reverse thrust to create an asymmetric force to rotate the rotatable UAV landing surface.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

landing the UAV on the landing surface.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

rotating, prior to translating the rotatable UAV landing surface, the rotatable UAV landing surface.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein rotating the rotatable UAV landing surface further comprises:

generating, by at least one motor of the UAV, a reverse thrust to create an asymmetric force to rotate the rotatable UAV landing surface.

10. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, comprising:

a rotatable UAV landing surface; and

one or more data regions disposed on a surface proximate the rotatable UAV landing surface, wherein each of the one or more data regions has an electrically conductive surface;

wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface is configured to rotate relative to the one or more data regions;

wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface is configured to rotate a UAV resting on the rotatable UAV landing surface relative to the one or more data regions, the UAV comprising one or more electrically conductive data contact points, to align the one or more electrically conductive data contact points of the UAV with at least one of the one or more data regions for data transmission between the UAV and the rotatable UAV landing surface;

wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface is configured to rotate relative to the one or more data regions to a predetermined alignment with respect to a prevailing wind, and wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface is configured to translate to elevate the UAV above the one or more data regions, rotate the rotatable UAV landing surface to align the one or more electrically conductive data contact points with the at least one of the one or more data regions, and translate to lower the UAV to make contact between the one or more electrically conductive data contact points of the UAV and the at least one of the one or more data regions.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface further comprises one or more guides for aligning a wing of the UAV.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more guides comprises a rigid alignment tab that extends upward from the rotatable UAV landing surface, wherein the rigid alignment tab comprises an elongated surface configured to contact the wing of the UAV.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more guides comprises opposing guides that taper together towards their bases.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the opposing guides rotatably guide the wing of the UAV into a predetermined angular orientation relative to the rotatable UAV landing surface.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

one or more power regions disposed on the surface proximate the rotatable UAV landing surface, wherein each of the one or more power regions has an electrically conductive surface;

wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface is configured to rotate the UAV resting on the rotatable UAV landing surface relative to the one or more power regions, the UAV comprising one or more electrically conductive power contact points, to align the one or more electrically conductive power contact points of the UAV with at least one of the one or more power regions for power transmission between the UAV and the rotatable UAV landing surface.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more guides comprise guide paddles, wherein the guide paddles comprise an elongated surface configured to contact the wing of the UAV, wherein each pair of guide paddles forms a V-channel that guide the wing of the UAV into a proper angular orientation relative to the rotatable UAV landing surface, and wherein the wing of the UAV is at least partially disposed within the V-channel when the UAV is landed.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more guides comprise guide posts, wherein the guide posts are spaced apart sufficiently to enable seating of the wing of the UAV between the guide posts.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more electrically conductive data contact points of the UAV are disposed distal from a fuselage of the UAV.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface is configured to rotate relative to the rotatable UAV landing surface to align a wing of the UAV seated in the rotatable UAV landing surface subsequent to a landing of the UAV.