HYBRID AERIAL AND TERRESTRIAL VEHICLE

• US 20140131507A1
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Illinois Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Kalantari, Arash, Spenko, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/005 Motorised rolling toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/36 Arrangements or adaptations of wheels, tyres or axles in general
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft
• 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 10/70 Convertible aircraft, e.g. convertible into land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/80 UAVs characterised by their small size, e.g. micro air vehicles [MAV]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

Abstract

A vehicle capable of both aerial and terrestrial locomotion. The terrestrial and aerial vehicle includes a flying device and a rolling cage connected to the flying device by at least one revolute joint. The rolling cage at least partially surrounds the flying device and is free-rolling and not separately powered.

Claims

1. A terrestrial and aerial vehicle, comprising a flying device and a rolling cage connected to the flying device by at least one revolute joint.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rolling cage extends around at least a portion of the flying device.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the revolute joint comprises a shaft and a bearing.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rolling cage surrounds or encloses at least a portion of the flying device.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the flying device comprises a rotor disposed within the rolling cage.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the rotor propels both aerial and terrestrial locomotion.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the flying device comprises a rotor powered by an actuator motor, and a non-powered rolling cage.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to receive a wireless control signal.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rolling cage comprises two opposing hubs and a plurality of rails.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rotors.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a surveillance camera mounted on the flying device.

12. A terrestrial and aerial vehicle, comprising:

a flying device including at least one rotor; and

a rolling cage connected to the flying device by at least one revolute joint and at least partially enclosing or surrounding the flying device.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the revolute joint comprises a shaft and a bearing.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the rotor propels both aerial and terrestrial locomotion.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the flying device comprises a plurality of rotors disposed within the rolling cage.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the rolling cage rotates about a shaft connected to the flying device, the shaft extends perpendicular to an axis of the at least one rotor, and the shaft is connected to the flying device or the rolling cage by a bearing.

17. A terrestrial and aerial vehicle, comprising:

a rotorcraft including at least one rotor;

a rolling cage connected to the rotorcraft;

a shaft connecting the rotorcraft to the rolling cage; and

a bearing connecting the shaft to at least one of the rotorcraft or the cage.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the shaft extends perpendicular to an axis of the at least one rotor.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the cage comprises two opposing hubs each including a bearing for receiving an end of a shaft, and the two hubs are connected by a plurality of rails.