Apparatus and method for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system

• US 10,472,051 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: High, Donald R., Atchley, Michael D., Thompson, John P., Natarajan, Chandrashekar
• Primary Examiner(s): Badawi, Medhat
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hutchens, Christopher D
• Application Number:
  US15/342,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20170129591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 17/04 by pendular bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/30 for safety, e.g. with frangible components rotor guards B64U30/299
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/40 foldable or retractable
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system. An apparatus for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system comprises a ring member and a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to attach to a multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member. Wherein the pair of attachment members holds the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system, comprising:

a ring member; and

a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to attach to a multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member;

wherein the pair of attachment members hold the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopter;

wherein the pair of attachment members pivots to raise the ring member when a landing gear of the multicopter is in an up position and pivots to lower the ring member when the landing gear is in a down position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring having a number of vertices equal to a number of one or more of motors, blades, and wings of the multicopter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring and the pair of attachment members are further configured to hold the ring member such that each vertices of the polygonal ring is aligned with a motor, a blade, or a wing of the multicopter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the ring member is equal or greater than a wing span of the multicopter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the attachment members each attaches to a landing gear of the multicopter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end of the attachment members are coupled to the ring member via hinges.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of each attachment member comprises a horizontal bar and the second end of each attachment member comprises two vertical bars extending vertically from the horizontal bar.

8. A method for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system, comprising:

coupling a stabilizer frame to a multicopter, the stabilizer frame comprising;

a ring member; and

a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to attach to the multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member;

wherein the pair of attachment members holds the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopter,

wherein the pair of attachment members pivots to raise the ring member when a landing gear of the multicopter is in an up position and pivots to lower the ring member when the landing gear is in a down position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring having a number of vertices equal to a number of one or more of motors, blades, and wings of the multicopter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring and the pair of attachment members are further configured to hold the ring member such that each vertices of the polygonal ring is aligned with a motor, a blade, or a wing of the multicopter.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a diameter of the ring member is equal or greater than a wing span of the multicopter.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first end of the attachment members each attaches to a landing gear of the multicopter.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second end of the attachment members are coupled to the ring member via hinges.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the first end of each attachment member comprises a horizontal bar and the second end of each attachment member comprises two vertical bars extending vertically from the horizontal bar.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

attaching a package to the multicopter through a center of the ring member.

16. A stabilized unmanned aerial system, comprising:

a multicopter comprising a plurality of motors and at least one blade driven by each of the plurality of motors;

a stabilizer comprising;

a ring member; and

a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member;

wherein the pair of attachment members holds the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopters;

wherein the pair of attachment members pivots to raise the ring member when a landing gear of the multicopter is in an up position and pivots to lower the ring member when the landing gear is in a down position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring having a number of vertices equal to a number of one or more of motors, blades, and wings of the multicopter.