Positioning mechanism, UAV dock using same, and UAV replenishment method

• US 10,414,517 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, Mingxi, Chen, Hanping, Chen, Xiangyu, Lin, Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/599,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20170253349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 244114 R
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• 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 70/97 Means for guiding the UAV to a specific location on the platform, e.g. platform structures preventing landing off-centre

Abstract

A positioning mechanism comprises a base comprising a landing area and a guide member. The landing area comprises a positioning portion. The guide member is movably arranged at the landing area and comprises a guide surface. The guide member is configured to be movable with respect to the base. A height of the guide member relative to the landing area is configured to be lower when the guide member is in a non-operating state than when the guide member is in an operating state. The guide surface is configured to adjoin the positioning portion when the guide member is in the operating state.

Claims

1. A positioning mechanism configured to assist in the landing of a UAV, comprising:

a base comprising a landing area, the landing area comprising a positioning portion; and

a guide member movably arranged at the landing area and comprising a guide surface, wherein;

the guide member is configured to be movable with respect to the base, a height of the guide member relative to the landing area being configured to be lower when the guide member is in a non-operating state than when the guide member is in an operating state, and

the guide surface is configured to adjoin the positioning portion when the guide member is in the operating state.

2. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the positioning portion includes a two-dimensional positioning portion for positioning two dimensions in a plane.

3. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the positioning portion includes a three-dimensional positioning space for positioning three dimensions in a space.

4. The positioning according to claim 1, wherein the landing area farther comprises an operating region adjoining the positioning portion.

5. The positioning mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the operating region comprises an operating flap door configured for an operating device to extend out of the base.

6. The positioning mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the positioning portion includes a positioning plane.

7. The positioning mechanism according to claim 6, further comprising a bottom edge positioner arranged on a side of the positioning plane opposite the operating region.

8. The positioning mechanism according to claim 7,

wherein the guide member is a first guide member and the guide surface is a first guide surface,

the positioning mechanism farther comprising:

a second guide member comprising a second guide surface,

wherein the first guide member and the second guide member are located on two opposite sides of the positioning portion, respectively, and the first guide surface and the second guide surface are arranged to face each other.

9. The positioning mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the positioning plane comprises a side limiter provided at an edge of the positioning plane, the side limiter and the guide member being located on two opposite sides of the positioning portion, and the guide surface of the guide member and the side limiter being arranged to face each other.

10. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the positioning portion includes a positioning recess adjoining the guide surface of the guide member.

11. The positioning mechanism according to claim 10, wherein a dimension of the positioning recess is approximately equal to a dimension to be positioned.

12. The positioning mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the positioning recess has a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction, the dimension of the positioning recess in the widthwise direction being approximately equal to the dimension to be positioned, and the dimension of the positioning recess in the lengthwise direction being greater than the dimension to be positioned.

13. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide surface includes a curved surface.

14. The positioning mechanism according to claim 13, wherein the guide surface includes at least one of a V-shaped convex surface, a V-shaped concave surface, an arc convex surface, an arc concave surface, a spherical convex surface, or a spherical concave surface.

15. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:

the guide member is configured to be folded within the landing area,

the operating state is a state in which the guide member is extended, and

the non-operating state is a state in which the guide member is folded.

16. The positioning mechanism according to claim 15, wherein:

the guide member includes a guide plate rotatably connected to the base, and the guide surface is arranged on a surface of the guide plate,

the operating state is a state in which the guide plate is inclined to the landing area after the guide plate rotates relative to the base, and

the non-operating state is a state in which the guide plate is parallel to the landing area after the guide plate rotates.

17. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:

the guide member is configured to be folded into the base,

the operating state is a state in which the guide member extends out of the base, and

the non-operating state is a state in which the guide member is folded in the base.

18. The positioning mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the landing area comprises a mounting flap door through which the guide member extends out of the base to the landing area.

19. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:

the guide member is configured to change a volume of the guide member,

the operating state is a state in which the guide member has extended the volume, and

the non-operating state is a state in which the guide member has reduced the volume.

20. A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dock, comprising:

a positioning mechanism comprising;

a base comprising a landing area, the landing area comprising a positioning portion; and

a guide member movably arranged at the landing area and comprising a guide surface,

wherein;

the guide member is configured to be movable with respect to the base, a height of the guide member relative to the landing area being configured to be lower when the guide member is in a non-operating state than when the guide member is in an operating state, and

the guide surface is configured to adjoin the positioning portion when the guide member is in the operating state; and

an operating device for operating a UAV;

wherein;

the guide surface of the guide member is configured to allow the UAV to move through to the positioning portion, and

the operating device is configured to operate on the UAV positioned at the positioning portion.