Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Having Spherical Loading Portion and Unmanned Ground Vehicle Therefor

• US 20110068224A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pusan National University
• Original Assignee: Pusan National University
• Inventors: KU, Tae-Wan, SONG, Woo-Jin, BYUN, Young-Seop, KANG, Beom-Soo
• Granted Patent: US 8,418,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/116
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/24 Coaxial rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• 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 80/86 Land vehicles

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a spherical locking portion for landing on an unmanned ground vehicle is disclosed. The spherical locking portion can be the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Further, an unmanned ground vehicle for landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising a landing portion configured to have some of a spherical locking portion of the unmanned aerial vehicle inserted therein is disclosed.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a spherical locking portion for landing on an unmanned ground vehicle.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spherical locking portion is a body of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising foldable alighting portions necessary for the unmanned aerial vehicle to independently land.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spherical locking portion is equipped with a coupler coupled with a power supply unit of the unmanned ground vehicle and configured to recharge the power supply unit with a power source.

5. An unmanned ground vehicle for landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising a landing portion configured to have some of a spherical locking portion of the unmanned aerial vehicle inserted therein.

6. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the landing portion has a hemispherical form corresponding to some of the spherical locking portion.

7. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein a power supply unit is provided within the landing portion, the power supply unit being coupled with a coupler of the unmanned aerial vehicle and configured to supply a power source for recharging the unmanned aerial vehicle.

8. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a restraint device for fixing the unmanned aerial vehicle landed at the landing portion.

9. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the restraint device comprises a plurality of link arms movable close to or far from the location where the unmanned aerial vehicle is landed so that they do not hinder takeoff and landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle while stably fixing the unmanned aerial vehicle.

10. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a moving device for rotating and moving the landed unmanned aerial vehicle to a desired location.

11. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the moving device comprises driving wheels placed at ends of respective link portions coming in contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

12. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the driving wheels are rotated in a direction in which the driving wheels can align an elevation angle and an azimuth angle.

13. The unmanned ground vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the desired location is a location where the unmanned aerial vehicle is in equilibrium with the unmanned ground vehicle or a location where the coupler of the unmanned aerial vehicle is coupled with a power supply unit of the unmanned ground vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle is landed on the unmanned ground vehicle, or a location where the unmanned ground vehicle is horizontal to the unmanned aerial vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from the unmanned ground vehicle