APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CHARGING AND HOUSING OF UNMANNED VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING (VTOL) AIRCRAFT

• US 20160009413A1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research Institute
• Inventors: CHO, Dong Hyun, KIM, Hae Dong, KIM, Jeong Hoon, LEE, Sang Cherl, REW, Dong Young, SIM, Eun Sup, CHOI, Gi Hyuk, KIM, In Kyu, MOON, Sang Man, HAN, Sang Hyuck, MOON, Sung Tae, SUK, Jin Young, KIM, Jin-Won, NO, Tae Soo, GONG, Hyeon Cheol, KIM, Min Ki, KIM, Jong Chul
• Granted Patent: US 9,701,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• 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 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/44 for storing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

An apparatus and method of charging and housing of an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is disclosed. The apparatus includes an accommodator to accommodate an aircraft, a landing platform on which the aircraft lands, a housing portion to monitor state data by housing or charging the aircraft, and a sensor to assist in landing of the aircraft by allowing the aircraft to communicate with the apparatus. The apparatus enhances operational efficiency by reducing a travel time of the aircraft.

Claims

1. An apparatus for charging and housing of an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

an accommodator to accommodate an aircraft;

a landing platform to be provided at a side of the apparatus, and on which an aircraft lands;

a housing portion to monitor state data by housing or charging the aircraft; and

a sensor to assist in landing of the aircraft by allowing the aircraft to communicate with the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:

a phase array antenna, an infrared (IR) ray lamp, a Lidar, a vision sensor, a sonar sensor, a beacon signal, a global positioning system (GPS) device or a differential global positioning system (DGPS) device, and light emitting diode (LED)/IR array lamps.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication between the aircraft and the apparatus comprises at least one of:

an omni-antenna or a reflector antenna for satellite communication, a phase array antenna to trace a flight path of the aircraft, and a DGPS device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Lidar is provided inside the phase array antenna, is vertically movable, moves to an upper portion of the phase array antenna when in use to be used for information associated with landing by implementing a three-dimensional (3D) map of a surrounding neighborhood, and moves down to be inserted to a lower portion of the phase array antenna when not in use.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED/IR array lamps are provided at a side of the landing platform, enables an automatic landing of the aircraft, and generates a pattern during a daytime and a nighttime, as necessary.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 comprises:

a container to accommodate a plurality of aircrafts and move the aircrafts;

an upper landing platform to be disposed on a top portion of the apparatus, and provided with a phase array radar or a Lidar;

a lateral landing platform to be disposed at a side portion of the apparatus, and provided with a landing zone; and

a rear landing platform to be disposed at a rear portion of the apparatus, and provided with a landing zone,

wherein the lateral landing platform or the rear landing platform opens and closes, and when the lateral landing platform or the rear landing platform is folded, the aircraft accommodated in the landing platform is housed and charged inside the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the landing zone further comprises:

a fixer to be mechanically bonded to the aircraft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a latch in the fixer to be inserted and bonded to the aircraft.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a power supply disposed in an outer peripheral portion of the landing zone:

wherein the latch is bonded to the aircraft simultaneously performed with monitoring or power supplying.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an axis at a side of the apparatus,

wherein a leftward and rightward horizontal movement of the landing platform is centered on the axis to open outward horizontally to the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the landing portions is disposed vertically at differing positions, and opens outwardly in a form of a drawer type.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 comprises:

a tower in which a plurality of aircraft is disposed;

a plurality of open type landing platforms to open horizontally;

a bridge to open the open type landing platforms externally to the tower;

a robotic arm disposed at a side of the tower to move the aircraft to the housing portion; and

an elevator provided in the tower to horizontally or vertically move the robotic arm.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a maintenance room in the tower for a user to directly maintain the aircraft, or perform repairs in an occurrence of an anomaly in the aircraft.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the robotic arm further comprises at least one of a socket or a grab type connection to the aircraft, and

moves the aircraft to the housing portion

22. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the Lidar is provided inside the phase array antenna, is vertically movable, moves to an upper portion of the phase array antenna when in use to be used for information associated with landing by implementing a three-dimensional (3D) map of a surrounding neighborhood, and moves down to be inserted to a lower portion of the phase array antenna when not in use.

10. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

17. A method of charging and housing of an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the method comprising:

identifying an aircraft and receiving information associated with a location of the aircraft;

guiding the aircraft towards a direction of an apparatus for charging and housing of an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft;

opening of a landing platform provided in the apparatus;

landing of the aircraft on the landing platform; and

housing and charging the aircraft and monitoring state data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the landing of the aircraft on the landing platform, or the guiding of the aircraft towards the direction of the apparatus comprises use of at least one of:

a Lidar, a vision sensor, a sonar sensor, a beacon signal, light emitting diode (LED)/infrared (IR) array lamps, an omni-antenna, a reflector antenna, a phase array antenna, and a global positioning system (GPS) device or a differential global positioning system (DGPS) device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the landing of the aircraft on the landing platform comprises:

calculating an optimal route based on collision avoidance amongst a plurality of aircrafts until the aircraft lands on the landing platform, and transmitting an access route to the plurality of aircrafts.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifying of the aircraft and receiving the information associated with the location of the aircraft, and the guiding of the aircraft towards the direction of the apparatus comprises:

using the aircraft location information in determining a landing route using a GPS or a DGPS device provided inside the aircraft, and

using the aircraft location information in active controlling of the aircraft and determining the landing route by receiving information associated with a attitude and altitude data or a heading angle received from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an attitude heading reference system (AHRS).

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the landing of aircraft on the landing platform comprises:

taking off or landing of the aircraft when the landing platform is disposed parallel to a ground.