TRANSFORMABLE AERIAL VEHICLE

• US 20140263823A1
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• 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, Du, Hao, Wang, Mingxi
• Granted Patent: US 8,931,730 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 25/12 sideways
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/00 Equipment not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for a transformable aerial vehicle are provided. In one aspect, a transformable aerial vehicle includes: a central body and at least two transformable frames assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion; an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to pivot the at least two frame assemblies to a plurality of different vertical angles relative to the central body; and a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.

Claims

1. A transformable aerial vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a central body;

at least two transformable frame assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion;

an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to pivot the at least two transformable frame assemblies to a plurality of different vertical angles relative to the central body; and

a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the transformable aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least two transformable frame assemblies comprise a primary shaft and at least one secondary shaft extending parallel to the primary shaft, the primary shaft and the at least one secondary shaft respectively pivotally coupled to the central body, wherein the primary shaft and the at least one secondary shaft are coupled to each other such that actuation of the primary shaft by the actuation assembly produces a corresponding actuation of the at least one secondary shaft.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly comprises a linear actuator, and a portion of each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies is coupled to the linear actuator.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the linear actuator comprises a screw and nut mechanism, and the portion of each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies is coupled to the nut.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of propulsion units comprises a rotor.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to pivot the at least two transformable frame assemblies between a first vertical angle and a second vertical angle.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein at the first vertical angle, the at least two transformable frame assemblies are angled downwards relative to the central body, and wherein at the second vertical angle, the at least two transformable frame assemblies are angled upwards relative to the central body.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the transformable aerial vehicle further comprises a receiver configured to receive user commands for controlling one or more of the actuation assembly and the plurality of propulsion units.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the user commands are transmitted from a remote terminal.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the transformable aerial vehicle further comprises a payload coupled to the central body.

12. A transformable aerial vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a central body;

at least two transformable frame assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion coupled to the central body and a distal portion;

an actuation assembly configured to transform the at least two transformable frame assemblies between a first configuration and a second configuration; and

a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle, wherein the first configuration includes the propulsion units being positioned above the central body and the second configuration includes the propulsion units being positioned below the central body.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the transformable aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least two transformable frame assemblies comprise a primary shaft and at least one secondary shaft extending parallel to the primary shaft, the primary shaft and the at least one secondary shaft respectively pivotally coupled to the central body, wherein the primary shaft and the at least one secondary shaft are coupled to each other such that actuation of the primary shaft by the actuation assembly produces a corresponding actuation of the at least one secondary shaft.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of propulsion units comprises a rotor.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein each rotor is oriented horizontally relative to the transformable aerial vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least two transformable frame assemblies are transformed into the first configuration during a first phase of operation of the transformable aerial vehicle and transformed into the second configuration during a second phase of operation of the transformable aerial vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first phase of operation comprises the transformable aerial vehicle flying in air, and the second phase of operation comprises the transformable aerial vehicle taking off from a surface and/or landing on the surface.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the transformable aerial vehicle further comprises a payload coupled to the central body.

20. A transformable aerial vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a central body coupled to a payload;

at least two transformable frame assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion coupled to the central body and a distal portion;

an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to transform the at least two transformable frame assemblies between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration permits the at least two transformable frame assemblies to support the transformable aerial vehicle resting on a surface, and wherein the second configuration increases a functional space of the payload; and

a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the transformable aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

22. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the at least two transformable frame assemblies comprise a primary shaft and at least one secondary shaft extending parallel to the primary shaft, the primary shaft and the at least one secondary shaft respectively pivotally coupled to the central body, wherein the primary shaft and the at least one secondary shaft are coupled to each other such that actuation of the primary shaft by the actuation assembly produces a corresponding actuation of the at least one secondary shaft.

23. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of propulsion units comprises a rotor.

24. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the at least two transformable frame assemblies are transformed into the first configuration during a first phase of operation of the transformable aerial vehicle and transformed into the second configuration during a second phase of operation of the transformable aerial vehicle.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the first phase of operation comprises the transformable aerial vehicle flying in air, and the second phase of operation comprises the transformable aerial vehicle taking off from a surface and/or landing on the surface.

26. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the payload comprises an image capturing device, and the functional space comprises an unobstructed field of view of the image capturing device.

27. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the at least two transformable frame assemblies each comprise a support member configured to support the transformable aerial vehicle resting on a surface.

28. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein in the first configuration, the at least two transformable frame assemblies are angled downwards relative to the central body, and wherein in the second configuration angle, the at least two transformable frame assemblies are angled upwards relative to the central body.

29. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the transformable aerial vehicle further comprises a receiver configured to receive user commands for controlling one or more of the actuation assembly and the plurality of propulsion units.

30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the user commands are transmitted from a remote terminal.