UAV payload module camera assembly and retraction mechanism

• US 10,457,418 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Zwaan, John Peter, Belik, Pavel, Dimotakis, Manolis, D'Aquila, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US16/130,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20190118971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/10 for releasing or capturing UAVs by hand

Abstract

In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.

Claims

1. A UAV comprising:

a) a payload secured to the UAV so as to be capable of being stowed within the UAV and deployed out of the UAV;

b) a biasing member to bias the payload out of the UAV and into a deployed position; and

c) a retraction mechanism comprising a flexible means capable of supporting tension, the retraction mechanism and the flexible means allowing the payload to be deployed by the biasing member and causing the payload to retract into the UAV from the deployed position.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the flexible means comprises at least one of:

a) a cable;

or b) a belt.

3. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the flexible means comprises a corrosion resistant material.

4. The UAV of claim 3, wherein the flexible means comprises a KEVLAR belt.

5. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the biasing member provides sufficient force to keep the payload stable when the payload is deployed out of the UAV into an airstream.

6. The UAV of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the payload in the deployed position.

7. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the payload is secured with a hinge.

8. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a winch.

9. A method in a UAV comprising:

a) securing a payload to the UAV so as to be capable of stowing the payload within the UAV and deploying the payload out of the UAV;

b) biasing the payload out of the UAV into a deployed position;

c) retracting the payload using a flexible means capable of supporting tension; and

d) wherein retracting using the flexible means comprises causing the payload to retract into the UAV from the deployed position while biasing the payload out of the UAV.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein retracting using the flexible means comprises using at least one of:

a) a cable;

or b) a belt.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein retracting using the flexible means comprises using a corrosion resistant material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein retracting using the flexible means comprises a KEVLAR belt.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein biasing comprises providing sufficient force to keep the payload stable when the payload is deployed out of the UAV into an airstream.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising locking the payload in the deployed position to secure the payload in the deployed position.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein securing the payload comprises securing with a hinge.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein retracting the payload comprises using a winch.