SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UNMANNED AERIAL PAINTING APPLICATIONS

• US 20160082460A1
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luryto, LLC
• Original Assignee: Luryto, LLC
• Inventors: McMaster, Ryan, Busby, Luke Andrew, Iverson, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 9,776,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/007 At least a part of the apparatus, e.g. a container, being provided with means, e.g. wheels, for allowing its displacement relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0403 with pumps for liquids or other fluent material B05B9/043 takes precedence
• 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 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/28 for painting or marking
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for applying a liquid to a surface. According to various embodiments, the UAS includes an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) including flight control mechanisms. The UAV is configured to receive first control signals and to adjust an operational configuration of the flight control mechanisms in response to the first control signals. The UAS further includes a delivery assembly coupled to the UAV, where the delivery assembly is configured to receive second control signals and to apply the liquid to the surface located proximately to the UAV in response to the second control signals. The UAS further includes a control unit coupled to the UAV and the delivery assembly, the control unit configured to transmit the first and second control signals to the UAV and the delivery assembly, respectively.

Claims

1. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for applying a liquid to a surface, the UAS comprising:

an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) including flight control mechanisms, the UAV configured to receive first control signals and to adjust an operational configuration of the flight control mechanisms in response to the first control signals;

a delivery assembly connected to the UAV, the delivery assembly configured to receive second control signals and to apply the liquid to the surface in response to the second control signals, the delivery assembly including;

a supply reservoir, the supply reservoir configured to hold the liquid and remain on the ground while the UAV is in flight,

a nozzle configured to apply the liquid to the surface,

a first pump coupled to the UAV, the first pump configured to supply the liquid to the nozzle,

a tether comprising a flexible tube connected between the supply reservoir and the first pump,

a second pump connected to the supply reservoir and the flexible tube, the second pump configured to force the liquid from the supply reservoir, through the flexible tube, and to the first pump; and

a control unit connected to the UAV, the control unit configured to transmit the first and second control signals to the UAV and the delivery assembly, respectively.

5. The UAS of claim 1, further comprising a around-based control station, the ground-based control station comprising one selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a tablet, and a mobile phone.

7. The UAS of claim 1, the tether further comprising a power supply line.

8. The UAS of claim 7, further comprising a power supply configured to provide electrical power to the UAV and the delivery assembly via the power supply line.

9. The UAS of claim 1, wherein the UAV comprises a plurality of sensors, and wherein the system further comprises a plurality of reflectors affixed to the surface, wherein the sensors are configured to detect a position of the UAV relative to the reflectors and generate third signals associated with the position.

10. The UAS of claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the location of the UAV relative to the reflectors based at least in part on the third signals.

11. The UAS of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to fly the UAV along a predetermined flight path proximate to the surface to apply the liquid in a predetermined pattern.

12. The UAS of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to fly the UAV in a plurality of randomly determined directions proximate to the surface and to apply the liquid at predetermined positions along the randomly determined directions, such that over time the liquid is applied to the surface in a predetermined pattern.

13. The UAS of claim 1, the tether further comprising a magnetic quick-release configured to separate the tether from the UAV in the event of an emergency.

18. The UAS of claim 1, wherein the UAV comprises:

a body connected to the flight control mechanisms;

a boom extending radially outward from the body, wherein the nozzle is disposed at a distal end of the boom, and wherein the nozzle, boom, and flight control mechanisms are disposed such that the nozzle is located further from a center of the body than the flight control mechanisms.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

14. A system configured to be connected to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the UAV including flight control mechanisms and configured to receive first control signals and to adjust an operational configuration of the flight control mechanisms in response to the first control signals, the system comprising:

a delivery assembly configured to receive second control signals and to apply a liquid to a surface located proximately to the UAV in response to the second control signals, the delivery assembly including;

a supply reservoir arranged to rest on the ground while the UAV is in flight and to hold the liquid;

a nozzle configured to be connected to the UAV;

a supply line coupled between the supply reservoir and the nozzle;

a first pump connected between the supply reservoir and the supply line, the first pump arranged to force the liquid upwards through the supply line while the UAV is in flight; and

a second pump configured to be connected to the UAV and in line with the supply line, the second pump arranged to provide liquid from the supply line to the nozzle at a pre-selected pressure.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a control unit communicatively coupled to the delivery assembly, the control unit configured to transmit the second control signals to the delivery assembly.

19. The system of claim 14, the first pump configured to provide a majority of the work required to deliver the liquid to the UAV, the second pump configured to deliver the liquid to the nozzle at an optimal pressure for precise application of the liquid.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for applying a liquid to a surface, the UAS comprising:

an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) including rotors, the UAV configured to receive first control signals and to adjust an operational configuration of the rotors in response to the first control signals;

a liquid delivery assembly connected to the UAV, the liquid delivery assembly including a nozzle, the liquid delivery assembly configured to receive second control signals and to apply the liquid to the surface with the nozzle in response to the second control signals, and

a control unit configured to transmit the first control signals and the second control signals to the UAV and the liquid delivery assembly, respectively, the control unit configured to automatically adjust the operational configuration of the rotors in response to a position of the nozzle with respect to the surface such that the UAV travels along a predetermined flight path adjacent to the surface and the nozzle is maintained at an optimum distance from the surface as the UAV travels along the predetermined flight path, wherein the optimum distance is less than thirty centimeters.

21. The UAS of claim 20, the UAV further comprising:

a body; and

a boom coupled to the body, the nozzle disposed at a distal end of the boom, the boom, rotors, and nozzle arranged such that the nozzle is disposed further away from the body than the rotors.

22. The UAS of claim 21, the UAV further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to detect, to the nearest centimeter, a position of the sensors relative to the surface, the control unit configured to calculate the position of the nozzle based at least upon the position of the sensors relative to the surface, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed at the distal end of the boom.

23. The UAS of claim 22, the UAV further comprising a bumper disposed at the distal end of the boom, the bumper arranged to protect the nozzle and the plurality of sensors if the bumper contacts the surface during travel of the UAV along the predetermined flight path.

24. The UAS of claim 23, wherein the liquid delivery assembly further comprises:

a supply reservoir, the supply reservoir configured to hold the liquid and remain on the ground while the UAV is in flight;

a first pump coupled to the UAV, the first pump configured to supply the liquid to the nozzle;

a tether comprising a flexible tube coupled between the supply reservoir and the first pump; and

a second pump coupled to the supply reservoir and the flexible tube, the second pump configured to force the liquid from the supply reservoir, through the flexible tube, and to the first pump.

25. The UAS of claim 23, wherein the delivery assembly comprises:

a cradle configured to hold an aerosol can, the aerosol can including a spring valve; and

an actuator configured to depress the spring valve of the aerosol can in response to one of the second control signals.