Drone aircraft landing and docking systems

• US 10,577,126 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Robotics Corp.
• Original Assignee: American Robotics, Inc. (Ondas Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mozer, Reese A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abell, Tye William
• Application Number:
  US15/260,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20170073084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/24 Adaptations of turntables
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/30 with arrangements for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A docking station for an aircraft includes a base portion and an alignment system disposed on the base portion configured to orient the aircraft relative to the base portion. The alignment system can include a plurality of outer protrusions extending away from the base portion in a vertical direction.

Claims

1. A docking station for an aircraft, comprising:

a base portion; and

an alignment system disposed on the base portion configured to orient the aircraft relative to the base portion;

wherein the alignment system includes a plurality of inner and outer protrusions extending away from the base portion in a vertical direction or a single protrusion mimicking a three-dimensional shape formed by the plurality of inner and outer protrusions;

wherein the plurality of inner and outer protrusions extend away from the base portion in both the vertical direction and a horizontal direction such that the outer protrusions extend from the base portion at an angle;

wherein the outer protrusions include ramp shape and are angled toward a middle of the base portion such that the ramp shape angles down toward the middle of the base portion;

wherein the outer protrusions are circumferentially disposed about the middle of the base portion to form an outer periphery of a landing area and to urge the aircraft toward a middle of the base portion; and

wherein the inner protrusions include ramp shape and are angled away from a middle of the base portion such that the ramp shape angles down away from the middle of the base portion.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the outer protrusions and the inner protrusions meet at the base portion.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein one or more of the outer protrusions and/or inner protrusions are covered with a covering material.

4. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a landing platform at the middle of the base portion disposed at an upper end of the inner protrusions.

5. The docking station of claim 4, wherein the landing platform includes a charging system operatively associated therewith and configured to electrically couple to the aircraft to charge a battery of the aircraft.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the landing platform includes a data transfer systemoperatively associated therewith and configured to communicate with the aircraft.