HOVERING AERIAL VEHICLE WITH REMOVABLE ROTOR ARM ASSEMBLIES

• US 20090283629A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Unmanned Aerial Systems ULC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aeryon Labs, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: BRUBACHER-CRESSMAN, Dale, KROETSCH, David, MARCHETTI, Stephen, CHERLER, Cristian, PEASGOOD, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,322,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.230
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• 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 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/29 Constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20

Abstract

The invention provides a hovering aerial vehicle with removable rotor arms and protective shrouds. Removing the shrouds reduces the weight of the vehicle and increases flight time. Removing the rotor arms makes the vehicle easier to transport. Removable rotor arms also simplify field repair or replacement of damaged parts.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle comprising:

a central pod; and

a set of replaceable rotor arm assemblies, each of the set of rotor arm assemblies connected to and extending the central pod.

2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a set of shrouds for protecting the set of rotor arm assemblies.

3. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein the number of shrouds equals the number of rotor arm assemblies so that the set of shrouds protect the rotor arm assemblies in a one-to-one relationship.

4. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein there the set of shrouds include at least two shrouds.

5. The aerial vehicle of claim 4 wherein each of the at least two shrouds includes shroud interconnect features for connecting the at least two shrouds together.

6. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein the central pod comprises:

a central pod frame; and

a set of receptacles for receiving each of the set of rotor arm assemblies.

7. The aerial vehicle of claim 6 wherein each of the set of rotor arm assemblies comprises:

a retainer ring for mating with one of the set of receptacles;

a motor;

a motor basket for housing the motor;

a rotor arm, having the retainer ring located at one end and connected to the motor basket at the a second end; and

a set of rotor blades connected to the motor.

8. The aerial vehicle of claim 7 wherein each of the set of rotor arm assemblies further comprises a support arm connecting the rotor arm assembly to a shroud.

9. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further including apparatus for mounting the set of shrouds to the central pod.

10. The aerial vehicle of claim 9 wherein the apparatus comprises:

a female receiving portion located on the central pod; and

a complementary male protrusion portion located on each of the set of shrouds.

11. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a processor for communicating with a remote control to receive operational instructions.

12. The aerial vehicle of claim 11 further comprising:

a central pod rotor arm interface circuit board; and

a rotor arm circuit board for each of the set of rotor arm assemblies;

wherein the central pod rotor arm interface circuit transmits instructions to the individual rotor arm circuit boards to communicate the operational instructions.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising landing gear attached to the bottom of the central pod or said set of rotor arm assemblies.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein the rotor arm assemblies are snapped into the central pod.

15. The aerial vehicle of claim 14 wherein the central pod comprises a set of sockets and each of the rotor arm assemblies includes ball plungers for mating with the set of sockets.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 15 wherein the set of sockets each comprise a set of ball bearings for retaining and aligning the associated rotor arm assembly.