TETHERED AERIAL SYSTEM FOR DATA GATHERING
First Claim
1. An aerial vehicle system for gathering data, the aerial vehicle system comprising:
- a ground station;
a first aerial vehicle, wherein the first aerial vehicle comprises a sensor payload;
a second aerial vehicle;
a first tether portion operatively coupled between the ground station and the second aerial vehicle; and
a second tether portion operatively coupled between the second aerial vehicle and the first aerial vehicle;
wherein the first tether portion is configured to deliver power from the ground station to the second aerial vehicle and the second tether portion is configured to deliver power to the first aerial vehicle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) may be outfitted with a sensor payload for data gathering. The tethered UAV may be tethered to a ground station for constricting the flight space of the UAV while also providing the option for power delivery and/or bidirectional communications. The tethered UAV'"'"'s flight path may be extended by introducing one or more secondary UAVs that cooperate to extend the horizontal flight path of a primary UAV. The ground station, which may be coupled with the tethered aerial vehicle, may comprise a listening switch configured to determine a condition of the tether such that the supply of power to the tether may be terminated when tether damage or a tether severance is detected.
307 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An aerial vehicle system for gathering data, the aerial vehicle system comprising:
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a ground station; a first aerial vehicle, wherein the first aerial vehicle comprises a sensor payload; a second aerial vehicle; a first tether portion operatively coupled between the ground station and the second aerial vehicle; and a second tether portion operatively coupled between the second aerial vehicle and the first aerial vehicle; wherein the first tether portion is configured to deliver power from the ground station to the second aerial vehicle and the second tether portion is configured to deliver power to the first aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A safety system for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, the safety system comprising:
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a ground station, wherein the ground station is configured to deliver power from a power source; a tether for coupling the aerial vehicle with the ground station, wherein the tether is configured to transmit power from the ground station to the aerial vehicle; a device positioned between the ground station and the aerial vehicle for adjusting the tension or length of the tether; and a listening switch, the listening switch being coupled with the ground station and positioned between the power source and the tether; wherein supply of power from the power source to the tether is terminated when the listening switch detects tether damage or tether severance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A safety method for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, the safety method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an electrical signal from a ground station to an aerial vehicle through a tether and back to the ground station via the same tether; listening for the electrical signal to be received back at the ground station; wherein the electrical signal received at the ground station is utilized as a received signal value; wherein the received signal value to set to zero or null when the electrical signal is not received at the ground station; comparing the received signal value to the transmitted electrical signal to determine a signal loss value; triggering the ground station to stop transmitting power through the tether when the received signal value is zero or null; instructing each aerial vehicle coupled to the tether to return to the ground station when the signal loss value has exceeded a predetermined signal loss threshold value; and authorizing each aerial vehicle coupled to the tether to continue its current flight plan when the signal loss value has not exceeded the predetermined signal loss threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An unmanned tethered aerial vehicle for increasing safety during descent, the unmanned tethered aerial vehicle comprising:
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a tether, wherein the tether is configured to couple with a ground station that is configured to supply power to the aerial vehicle; one or more propellers; a descent stabilization device for controlling the altitude of the aerial vehicle during descent; and a force-impact attenuator for reducing peak force during ground impact when power through the tether is no longer available. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification