UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a rocket body including a propulsion section and a payload section;
a plurality of stabilizing fins extending from a rearward portion of the rocket body;
a parachute having a stored position within the rocket body and a deployed position substantially removed from within the rocket body;
the parachute being coupled with the payload section;
an image capture device positioned in the payload section;
a magnetometer positioned in the payload section capable of providing a compass reference; and
a radio transmitter positioned in the payload section capable of transmitting image and magnetometer data to a remote receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A UAV includes: a rocket body, having a rocket motor and a payload section; a parachute coupled with the payload section; an image capture device; a magnetometer to provide a compass reference for images taken from the image capture device; and a transmitter to communicate image and compass data to a remote receiver. Compass bearings are overlaid on image data from the image capture device. A handheld launch unit includes an ignition system, having an activation mechanism and an igniter to activate the rocket motor. A safety pin prevents electrical current from flowing to the igniter until the pin is removed. An accelerometer and/or magnetometer determines an angular orientation of the UAV. Software verifies that the angle is within a user-defined safety limit before activating the igniter.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
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a rocket body including a propulsion section and a payload section; a plurality of stabilizing fins extending from a rearward portion of the rocket body; a parachute having a stored position within the rocket body and a deployed position substantially removed from within the rocket body;
the parachute being coupled with the payload section;an image capture device positioned in the payload section; a magnetometer positioned in the payload section capable of providing a compass reference; and a radio transmitter positioned in the payload section capable of transmitting image and magnetometer data to a remote receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An unmanned aerial system comprising:
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a UAV, having at least;
(i) a rocket body that includes a rocket motor and a payload section;
(ii) a parachute within the rocket body and coupled to the payload section in a manner that permits regulating a descent of the payload section;
(iii) an image capture device in the payload section;
(iv) a magnetometer in the payload section capable of providing a compass reference; and
(v) a radio transmitter in the payload section;a launch unit that is shaped to receive the UAV; an ignition system coupled with the rocket motor; and a ground station unit having a receiver that is tuned to receive data from the radio transmitter of the UAV. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for providing frames of reference for aerial reconnaissance images comprising:
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receiving image data indicative of one or more images captured from an unmanned aerial vehicle having an image capture device and a magnetometer associated with the image capture device; receiving magnetometer data associated with the images, and referencing compass bearings to each image using the magnetometer data to determine the orientation of the image capture device of the UAV with respect to magnetic north. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification