SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UAV BATTERY POWER BACKUP

• US 20160039300A1
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• 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, Mingxi, Wang, Mingyu, Qiu, Hualiang
• Granted Patent: US 9,434,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 35/02 specially adapted for specific power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• 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 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while providing continuous power to at least one system on the UAV. The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV. The UAV and/or the energy provision station may have a backup energy source to provide continuous power to the UAV.

Claims

1. A UAV comprising:

a propulsion unit configured to effect movement of the UAV; and

a power unit comprising;

a first battery configured to power (1) the propulsion unit and (2) a power consuming unit of the UAV; and

a second battery configured to power the power consuming unit of the UAV,

wherein the power unit is configured to switch between (a) a first mode wherein the first battery is providing power to (1) the propulsion unit and (2) the power consuming unit and (b) a second mode wherein the second battery is providing power to the power consuming unit, and not providing power to the propulsion unit.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the propulsion unit includes one or more rotors configured to generate lift for the UAV.

3. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the power consuming unit is one or more of the following a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, motion sensor, inertial measurement unit sensor, proximity sensor, and/or image sensor.

4. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the first battery does not provide power during the second mode.

5. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the first battery is decoupled from the UAV during the second mode.

6. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the power unit is switched to the second mode when the UAV is resting on a surface.

7. The UAV of claim 6, wherein the power unit is configured to be switched from the first mode to the second mode prior to or as the first battery is removed from the UAV, and continuous power is provided to the power consuming unit.

8. The UAV of claim 7, when the power unit is configured to be switched from the second mode to the first mode when the first battery is coupled to the UAV and prepared to provide power.

9. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the power unit is configured to switch between the first and second mode when the voltage of the first battery falls beneath the voltage of the second battery.

10. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the power unit comprises a unidirectional diode that has a positive end facing the second battery and a negative end facing the power consuming unit.

11. The UAV of claim 10, wherein the power unit comprises another unidirectional diode that has a positive end facing the first battery and a negative end facing the power consuming unit.

12. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the power unit comprises and electrical switch that is in a closed position during the first and second mode.

13. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the first battery is electrically connected to the second battery during the first mode.

14. The UAV of claim 13, wherein the second battery is configured to provide lower voltage power than the first battery.

15. A method of providing energy to a UAV, said method comprising:

powering (1) a propulsion unit, and (2) a power consuming unit of the UAV with a first battery;

powering the power consuming unit of the UAV with a second battery without powering the propulsion unit with the second battery; and

stop powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the propulsion unit includes one or more rotors configured to generate lift for the UAV.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the UAV is resting on a surface when no longer powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the UAV is in flight when powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

19. The method of claim 15, charging the second battery while powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

20. The method of claim 19, charging the second battery with the first battery while the UAV is in flight.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the power unit comprises a unidirectional diode that has a positive end facing the second battery and a negative end facing the power consuming.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the second battery is configured to provide lower voltage than the first battery.

23. A method of providing energy to a UAV, said method comprising:

powering (1) a propulsion unit, and (2) a power consuming unit of the UAV with a first battery;

charging a second battery with the first battery;

powering the power consuming unit of the UAV with the second battery; and

stop powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the propulsion unit includes one or more rotors configured to generate lift for the UAV.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the UAV is resting on a surface when no longer powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the UAV is in flight when powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

27. The method of claim 23, charging the second battery while powering (1) the propulsion unit, and (2) the power consuming unit of the UAV with the first battery.

28. The method of claim 27, charging the second battery with the first battery while the UAV is in flight.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the power unit comprises a unidirectional diode that has a positive end facing the second battery and a negative end facing the power consuming unit, and wherein the power unit comprises another unidirectional diode that has a positive end facing the first battery and a negative end facing the power consuming unit.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the second battery is configured to provide lower voltage than the first battery.