Unmanned aerial vehicle base station system and method
First Claim
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base station comprising:
- a landing surface for enabling a UAV having a UAV battery pack to land on the landing surface;
a battery-exchange system comprising;
a battery-matrix comprising a plurality of battery-slots, each configured to removably hold a UAV battery pack; and
a mechanical mechanism configured to move along at least two axes to interact with a selected UAV battery pack of the battery-exchange system and the UAV battery pack of the UAV;
wherein the battery-exchange system is disposed within a housing cavity defined by a housing that at least comprises a top-plate configured for the UAV to land on the top-plate, the top-plate comprising;
a hatch, the mechanical mechanism being operable to extend a battery pack through the hatch from within the housing cavity to a battery-swapping position above the top-plate; and
at least one hatch-door operable to cover the hatch when the mechanical mechanism is not extended through the hatch; and
a UAV fixation system operable to direct the UAV present on the top-plate to a battery-exchange zone of the top-plate.
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Abstract
A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base station for automated battery pack exchange and methods for manufacturing and using the same. The UAV base station includes a battery-exchange system disposed within a housing having a top-plate. The housing contains a battery array having a plurality of UAV battery packs and a mechanical mechanism for automatically removing an expended battery pack from a UAV that lands on the top-plate and replacing the expended battery pack with a charged battery pack. Thereby, the UAV base station system advantageously enables extended and autonomous operation of the UAV without the need for user intervention for exchanging UAV battery packs.
15 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base station comprising:
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a landing surface for enabling a UAV having a UAV battery pack to land on the landing surface; a battery-exchange system comprising; a battery-matrix comprising a plurality of battery-slots, each configured to removably hold a UAV battery pack; and a mechanical mechanism configured to move along at least two axes to interact with a selected UAV battery pack of the battery-exchange system and the UAV battery pack of the UAV; wherein the battery-exchange system is disposed within a housing cavity defined by a housing that at least comprises a top-plate configured for the UAV to land on the top-plate, the top-plate comprising; a hatch, the mechanical mechanism being operable to extend a battery pack through the hatch from within the housing cavity to a battery-swapping position above the top-plate; and at least one hatch-door operable to cover the hatch when the mechanical mechanism is not extended through the hatch; and a UAV fixation system operable to direct the UAV present on the top-plate to a battery-exchange zone of the top-plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification