Wireless power and data transfer for unmanned vehicles

• US 10,410,788 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2018
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Bana, Viktor S, Rockway, John D, Anderson, Gregory W, Liu, Wayne P
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Adam D
• Application Number:
  US16/114,329
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/42 Circuits specially adapted for the purpose of modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of transformers, reactors, or choke coils circuits for controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P13/00; impedance networks H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A system and method provide for wireless power and/or data transfer between devices, such as coils. A first device, operatively connected to an energy source, is positioned within a wireless transmission range of a second device, which may be operatively coupled to an unmanned vehicle. Power and/or data is wirelessly transferred to/from the energy source from/to the unmanned vehicle via the first device and the second device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of storage units each including a first device, energy storage, and data storage; and

an unmanned vehicle (UV) including;

an opening configured in size and shape to receive one of the plurality of storage units, and

a second device proximate to the opening,

wherein when one of the first devices is within a wireless transmission range of the second device, the respective storage unit having the first device is positioned within the opening and wireless transfer of power and data between the first device and the second device is permitted, and

wherein the first device and the second device are coils.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage units are configured to be hot-swappable in and out of the UV.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the respective storage unit is secured in the opening by at least one of magnetic, hydraulic, and buoyancy methods, and

wherein the respective storage unit is released from the opening when the storage unit is depleted of energy.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the UV is configured to wait until all of the power and data is transferred from the respective storage unit prior to continuing with an operational scenario.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the respective storage unit is configured to autonomously reposition itself such that it is no longer located within the opening prior to the UV continuing the operational scenario.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the UV continues to perform an operational scenario while the power and data transfer is occurring.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein when the UV is in need of additional power or data, the UV is configured to autonomously decide between returning to a previously used storage unit and locating another storage unit.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein each storage unit is configured to autonomously position itself within the opening.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each storage unit further comprises a controller configured to cause power and data to be sent from the storage unit to the UV, and the controller is also configured to receive power and data from the UV and route the power and data to the energy storage and the data storage as appropriate.

10. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of storage units each including a first device, energy storage, and data storage;

providing an unmanned vehicle (UV) including a second device and an opening configured in size and shape to receive one of the plurality of storage units, wherein the second device is proximate to the opening;

determining when one of the first devices is within a wireless transmission range of the second device;

positioning the respective storage unit having the first device within the opening; and

wirelessly transferring power and data between the first device and the second device, wherein the first device and the second device are coils.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the storage units are configured to be hot-swappable in and out of the UV.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

securing the respective storage unit in the opening by at least one of magnetic, hydraulic, and buoyancy methods; and

releasing the respective storage unit from the opening when the storage unit is depleted of energy.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the UV is configured to wait until all of the power and data is transferred from the storage unit prior to continuing with an operational scenario.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the respective storage unit is configured to autonomously reposition itself such that it is no longer located within the opening prior to the UV continuing the operational scenario.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the UV continues to perform an operational scenario while the power and data transfer is occurring.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein when the UV is in need of additional power or data, the UV is configured to autonomously decide between returning to a previously used storage unit and locating another storage unit.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein each storage unit is configured to autonomously position itself within the opening.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein each storage unit further comprises a controller configured to cause power and data to be sent from the storage unit to the UV, and the controller is also configured to receive power and data from the UV and route the power and data to the energy storage and the data storage as appropriate.

19. A system comprising:

a plurality of storage units each including a first device, energy storage, and data storage; and

an unmanned vehicle (UV) including;

an opening configured in size and shape to receive one of the plurality of storage units, and

a second device proximate to the opening,

wherein when one of the first devices is within a wireless transmission range of the second device, the respective storage unit having the first device unit is positioned within the opening and wireless transfer of power and data between the first device and the second device is initiated,

wherein the first device and the second device are coils, and

wherein each storage unit further comprises a controller configured to cause power and data to be sent from the storage unit to the UV, and the controller is also configured to receive power and data from the UV and route the power and data to the energy storage and the data storage as appropriate.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the storage units are configured to be hot-swappable in and out of the UV, and

wherein each storage unit is configured to autonomously position itself within the opening.