UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE AND OPERATIONS THEREOF

• US 20140131510A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, Tao, Zhao, Tao, Chen, Shaojie, Ou, Zhigang
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.23
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/06 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/00 Rotorcraft; Rotors peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/54 Mechanisms for controlling blade adjustment or movement relative to rotor head, e.g. lag-lead movement
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/14 Transmitting means between initiating means and power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• 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 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/291 : Detachable rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 : Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 : using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 : with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 : Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0047 : Housings or packaging of magnetic sensors packaging of semiconductor devices H01L23/00; Holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/16 : specially adapted for use from aircraft G01V3/165 - G01V3/175 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/00 : Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a housing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface that forms a cavity;

one or more electrical components disposed inside the cavity and adapted to control operation of the UAV; and

a sensor located outside the housing, operation of the sensor being susceptible to interference caused by the one or more electrical components.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located on an extension member extending from the housing and away from the cavity.

3. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the extension member includes a landing stand.

4. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located directly on the outer surface of the housing.

5. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the minimum distance between the sensor and the one or more electrical components is at least about 3 cm.

6. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the UAV comprises one or more rotor blades.

7. The UAV of claim 6, wherein at least one of the electrical components is pre-configured by a manufacturer of the UAV, and wherein the at least one of the electric components forms an electric unit necessary and sufficient for controlling operation of said UAV.

8. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a magnetometer or compass, and the one or more electrical components include a GPS receiver.

9. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing member and a lower housing member that are removably coupled to form the cavity.

10. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a central housing member connected to one or more branch housing members, wherein the central housing member forms a central cavity, and wherein the one or more branch housing members forms one or more branch cavities.

11. The UAV of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more electrical components is located inside the central cavity and the at least one electrical component includes at least one of a power source, flight control module, inertial measurement unit (IMU), or GPS receiver.

12. The UAV of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more electrical components is located inside one of the one or more branch cavities.

13. The UAV of claim 12, wherein the at least one electrical component located inside one of the one or more branch cavities includes an electronic speed control (ESC) module or an actuator.

14. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located on an extension member extending away from said one or more electric components.

15. A method of reducing interference experienced by a sensor susceptible to the interference from one or more electrical components of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

providing the UAV of claim 1, thereby reducing said interference.

16. A kit for assembling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

(a) one or more electrical components adapted to control operation of the UAV, and/or one or more rotor blades of said UAV; and

(b) instructions comprising information for a user of said UAV to assemble component(s) of (a) with a magnetometer, such that when the UAV is assembled, the UAV is characterized in that it comprises;

(1) (i) a housing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface that forms a cavity, disposed inside the cavity, the one or more electric components, and (ii) the magnetometer is located outside the housing;

or

(2) (i) a housing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface that forms a cavity, disposed inside the cavity, the one or more electric components, and (ii) the magnetometer is located at least 3 cm away from the one or more electrical components;

or

(3) (i) the one or more electrical component adapted to control operation of the UAV, and/or one or more rotor blades of said UAV, and (ii) a magnetometer located at least 3 cm away and at most 0.5 m away from the one or more electrical components.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the UAV when assembled comprises a housing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface that forms a cavity, and wherein the one or more electrical components are located inside the cavity.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the UAV when assembled further comprises an extension member attached to the outer surface of the housing and extending away from the cavity, and wherein the magnetometer is located on the extension member.

19. A kit for assembling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

(a) a housing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface that forms a cavity;

(b) one or more pre-configured electrical components disposed inside the cavity and adapted to control operation of the UAV;

(c) a magnetometer, operation of the magnetometer being susceptible to interference caused by the one or more electrical components; and

(d) instructions for assembling said UAV, such that when the UAV is assembled according to the instructions, the assembled UAV is characterized in that;

(1) the magnetometer is located outside the housing;

or

(2) the magnetometer is located at least 3 cm away from the one or more electrical component;

or

(3) the magnetometer is located at most 0.5 m away from the one or more electrical components.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the assembled UAV is further characterized in that the magnetometer is located at a position on said UAV where said magnetometer does not experience significant electromagnetic interference from said one or more electrical components.