Unmanned aerial vehicle and operations thereof

• US 10,472,056 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2019
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• 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, Tao, Zhao, Tao, Chen, Shaojie, Ou, Zhigang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kreiner, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US16/353,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20190276141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/30 Parts of fuselage relatively movable to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/06 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/00 Rotorcraft; Rotors peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/54 Mechanisms for controlling blade adjustment or movement relative to rotor head, e.g. lag-lead movement
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/14 Transmitting means between initiating means and power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 : autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 : Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/291 : Detachable rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 : Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 : using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 : with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 : Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0047 : Housings or packaging of magnetic sensors packaging of semiconductor devices H01L23/00; Holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/16 : specially adapted for use from aircraft G01V3/165 - G01V3/175 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/00 : Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.

Claims

1. A multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a central body;

a plurality of branch housing members extending from the central body, each configured to support a corresponding actuator and foldable relative to the central body;

one or more electrical components disposed inside the central body, the one or more electrical components comprising a flight control module;

a magnetometer configured to measure a heading of the UAV and disposed sufficiently distal from the one or more electrical components to effect a reduction of interference from the one or more electrical components; and

an indicator light configured to indicate establishment of a communication channel between the UAV and a remote control device;

wherein the magnetometer is located on an extension member extending away from the central body; and

wherein the extension member is a landing stand configured to bear weight of the UAV when the UAV is not airborne.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the central body comprises an upper housing member and a lower housing member that are removably coupled to form a central cavity.

3. The UAV of claim 2, wherein at least one of the upper housing member or the lower housing is manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique.

4. The UAV of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of branch housing members forms a branch cavity.

5. The UAV of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of branch housing members is manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique.

6. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the magnetometer is disposed inside the central body.

7. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the indicator light is positioned at an opening or window.

8. The UAV of claim 7, wherein the opening or the window is covered by a window cover that is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

9. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical components further comprise a GPS receiver.

10. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical components further comprise a power source and an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

11. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical components further comprise a plurality of electronic speed control (ESC) modules electrically connected to the flight control module.