Apparatus, systems and methods for unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 10,370,122 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foundation Productions LLC
• Original Assignee: Foundation Productions LLC
• Inventors: Fisher, James Mark, Davis, Bryan Jonathan, Fisher, Ronald Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Odeh, Nadeem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kerrigan, Michael V
• Application Number:
  US15/001,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20160304217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/70 Movable wings, rotor supports or shrouds acting as ground-engaging elements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/60 by wearable objects, e.g. garments or helmets
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/80 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement

Abstract

The disclosed inventions include personal Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV'"'"'s) and UAV universal docking ports “docking ports” to be incorporated into and/or attached to headwear, footwear, clothing, outerwear, devices, gear and equipment, land, air, water and space vehicles, buildings, wireless towers and other mobile or stationary objects and surfaces referred to collectively as “docking stations”. A docking station may have one or more docking ports for docking, networking and charging or refueling UAVs, and for providing data communications between said UAVs and other electronic devices. Said docking ports may also incorporate wireless power transmission for remote wireless charging of one or more UAV'"'"'s. Supplemental power for recharging said UAVs when docked may be supplied by battery(s) integrated in said docking port or may be provided directly from the docking station or other connected power source.

Claims

1. A UAV docking system comprising

a plurality of universal UAV docking ports for attachment and/or incorporation into at least one UAV and/or at least one docking station;

wherein each one of said plurality of universal UAV docking ports comprises a physical docking, communications, data networking, navigation and power charging connector;

wherein the physical docking, communications, data networking, navigation and power charging connector of a first One of said plurality of universal UAV docking ports is configured to physically dock, communicate with and power charge connect with the physical docking, communications, data networking, navigation and power charging connector of a second one of said plurality of universal UAV docking ports; and

wherein said physical docking, communications, data networking, navigation and power charging connector of said first universal UAV docking port and said physical docking, communications, data networking, navigation and power charging connector of said second universal UAV docking port are configured to enable autonomous docking and operation of the at least one UAV and/or at least one docking station when said first universal UAV docking port and said second universal UAV docking port are incorporated or attached to said at least one UAV and/or at least one docking station.

2. The UAV docking system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports is configured to operate as an autonomous port.

3. The UAV docking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the universal UAV docking ports is incorporated in or attached to the at least one docking station;

and wherein the at least one docking station and the attached or incorporated at least one of the universal UAV docking ports are configured to operate as an autonomous docking station and port.

4. The UAV docking system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports is incorporated as a fully integrated system in any one or any combination of the following:

UAV or other vehicle, clothing, equipment or other device, building or surface.

5. The UAV docking system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports includes a data processing system operably connected to at least one optical sensor and/or camera;

wherein said data processing system and said at least one optical sensor and/or camera are configured to optically depth map and optically image the environment of said at least one UAV and/or at least one docking station.

6. The UAV docking system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports includes an IR laser guidance system;

wherein said IR laser guidance system is configured to identify incoming aircraft and navigate port to port docking.

7. The UAV docking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports includes a light and optical imaging system and/or laser guidance system configured to transfer wirelessly power to said at least one UAV and/or docking station.

8. The UAV docking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports includes a light and optical imaging system and/or laser guidance system configured to transfer data to said at least one UAV and/or docking station and/or network therewith.

9. The UAV docking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports includes any one or any combination of the following:

a gyroscope, a accelerometer, a altimeter and other motion and orientation sensor for docking navigation and management of the at least one UAV.

10. The UAV docking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said universal UAV docking ports includes any one or any combination of the following:

a wireless beacon for cellular, satellite, WiMax, WiFi, RF, Bluetooth, GPS and other Wide and Local Area Networks and wireless location and communications protocols for network and direct peer to peer wireless communications with one or more other UAV ports and UAVs for any one or any combination of the following;

media, data transfer, navigation, device &

systems management, and remote operations and control.

11. The UAV docking system of claim 1, wherein said first universal UAV docking port includes a conical member, and said second universal UAV docking port defines a central opening configured to receive a part of said conical member.

12. The UAV docking system of claim 11, wherein said second universal UAV docking port includes a conical member with said central opening defined therein, said conical member of said second universal UAV docking port including any one or any combination of a sensor, camera, and emitter configured to assist with the autonomous docking.

13. The UAV docking system of claim 11, wherein said central opening includes at least one latching mechanism configured to lock onto a part of said conical member.

14. The UAV docking system of claim 11, wherein said central opening is defined by an internal peripheral wall and an end wall, and said end wall includes any one or any combination of a sensor and a camera configured to detect when said first universal UAV docking port is in direct line with said second universal UAV docking port.

15. The UAV docking system of claim 11, wherein said first universal UAV docking port includes a flanged surface, with said conical member extending in a direction away from said flanged surface.

16. The UAV docking system of claim 15, wherein said flanged surface includes any one or any combination of a sensor and a transmitter configured to track and communicate with said second universal UAV docking port.

17. The UAV docking system of claim 15, wherein said conical member of said first universal UAV docking port includes at least one latching mechanism configured to engage with at least one latching member associated with said central opening of said first universal UAV docking port when said conical member of said second universal UAV docking port is received in said central opening of said second universal UAV docking port.

18. The UAV docking system of claim 11, wherein said first universal UAV docking port is associated with said at least one docking station, and said second universal UAV docking port is associated with said UAV.

19. The UAV docking system of claim 11, wherein said first universal UAV docking port and said second universal UAV docking port are both incorporated with said UAV.