UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

• US 20160121673A1
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hutson, Donald Bolden
• Granted Patent: US 9,550,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/14 Endless-track automobiles or trucks
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/70 Constructional aspects of the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/12 Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/28 using brushing or sweeping means or dozers to push mines lying on a surface aside; using means for removing mines intact from a surface

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles and methods for providing the same are disclosed. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to a support frame. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations with a continuous track for ground propulsion. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to payload clamps.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a frame portion comprising a first assembly and a second assembly;

one or more air propulsion devices provided on each of the first assembly and the second assembly configured to propel the frame portion through the air; and

one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground;

at least one first motor configured to drive at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices, the at least one first motor is supported by the first assembly;

at least one second motor separate from the first motor configured to drive the one or more air propulsion devices, the at least one second motor is coupled to the one or more air propulsion devices;

wherein the one or more ground propulsion devices comprise one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices comprises a continuous track that forms the top-most surface of the vehicle and the bottom-most surface of the vehicle.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 2,

wherein the at least one of the one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices comprises the continuous track that further forms the front-most surface of the vehicle and the rear-most surface of the vehicle.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the first assembly of the frame portion forms at least one annular shape in a first plane;

and

wherein at least one of the one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices comprises a continuous track configured to revolve around a perimeter of the at least one annular shape of the first assembly of the frame portion.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 4,

wherein the at least one annular shape of the frame portion supports wheels between walls of a double wall structure of the frame portion;

and

wherein the continuous track configured to revolve around the perimeter of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion is configured to revolve around a path formed by the wheels supported by the double wall structure of the frame portion.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 4,

wherein at least one of the one or more air propulsion devices is disposed on a second plane in an opening of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6,

wherein the continuous track configured to revolve around the perimeter of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion is configured to revolve around the at least one of the one or more air propulsion devices disposed on a second plane in an opening of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 7,

wherein the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein at least two of the one or more air propulsion devices is provided within each of the one or more ground propulsion devices.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to move through the air using the one or more air propulsion devices to a first area near a destination location;

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to land on a surface in the first area near the destination location; and

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to move over the surface using the one or more ground propulsion devices to a second area nearer to the destination location than the first area.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the one or more air propulsion devices are configured to provide a lift force sufficient to engage the one or more ground propulsion devices against a surface;

and

wherein the one or more ground propulsion devices are configured to move the unmanned aerial vehicle across the surface while the one or more air propulsion devices engage the one or more ground propulsion devices against the surface.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 11,

wherein the surface is at least one of:

a surface located above the unmanned aerial vehicle or

a vertical surface.

31. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one a third motor configured to drive another one of the one or more ground propulsion devices, the third motor is supported by the second assembly; and

at least one a fourth motor separate from the first and third motors configured to drive another one of the one or more air propulsion devices, the fourth motor is coupled to the another one of the one or more air propulsion devices.

32. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 2,

wherein the continuous track is arranged around one of the at least one first motor;

and

wherein the first motor is arranged within the at least one annular shape.

33. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 4, wherein the continuous track is configured to revolve around two or more of the one or more air propulsion devices.

34. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, the frame portion further comprising a third assembly arranged between the first assembly and the second assembly,

wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are detachable from the third assembly;

wherein two of the one or more air propulsion devices and at least one of the at least one second motor are coupled to the first assembly;

wherein another two of the one or more air propulsion devices and another at least one of the at least one second motor are coupled to the second assembly; and

the first assembly is configured to move independently from the second assembly and the third assembly when detached from the second assembly and the third assembly.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. A method of manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

providing a frame portion comprising a first assembly and a second assembly;

providing one or more air propulsion devices on each of the first assembly and the second assembly configured to propel the frame portion through the air; and

providing one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground;

providing at least one first motor configured to drive at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices, the at least one first motor is supported by the first assembly;

providing at least one second motor separate from the first motor configured to drive the one or more air propulsion devices, the at least one second motor is coupled to the one or more air propulsion devices;

wherein the one or more ground propulsion devices comprise one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein at least one of the one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices comprises a continuous track that forms the top-most surface of the vehicle and the bottom-most surface of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17,

wherein the at least one of the one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices comprises the continuous track that further forms the front-most surface of the vehicle and the rear-most surface of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16,

wherein the frame portion forms at least one annular shape in a first plane;

and

wherein at least one of the one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices comprises a continuous track configured to revolve around a perimeter of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein at least one of the one or more air propulsion devices is disposed on a second plane in an opening of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion.

21. The method of claim 16,

wherein at least two of the one or more air propulsion devices is provided within each of the one or more ground propulsion devices.

22. The method of claim 16,

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to move through the air using the one or more air propulsion devices to a first area near a destination location;

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to land on a surface in the first area near the destination location; and

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to move over the surface using the one or more ground propulsion devices to a second area nearer to the destination location than the first area.

23. The method of claim 16,

wherein the one or more air propulsion devices are configured to provide a lift force sufficient to engage the one or more ground propulsion devices against a surface;

and

wherein the one or more ground propulsion devices are configured to move the unmanned aerial vehicle across the surface while the one or more air propulsion devices engage the one or more ground propulsion devices against the surface.

24. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a frame portion;

two or more air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion through the air; and

one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground;

wherein two of the two or more air propulsion devices is provided within at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices.

25. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 24,

wherein at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices comprises a continuous track that forms the top-most surface of the vehicle and the bottom-most surface of the vehicle.

26. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 25,

wherein the at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices comprises the continuous track that further forms the front-most surface of the vehicle and the rear-most surface of the vehicle.

27. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 24,

wherein the frame portion forms at least one annular shape in a first plane;

and

wherein at least one of the one or more continuous track ground propulsion devices comprises a continuous track configured to revolve around a perimeter of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion, and

wherein at least one of the one or more air propulsion devices is disposed on a second plane in an opening of the at least one annular shape of the frame portion.

29. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 24,

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to move through the air using the one or more air propulsion devices to a first area near a destination location;

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to land on a surface in the first area near the destination location; and

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to move over the surface using the one or more ground propulsion devices to a second area nearer to the destination location than the first area.

30. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 24,

wherein the one or more air propulsion devices are configured to provide a lift force sufficient to engage the one or more ground propulsion devices against a surface;

and

wherein the one or more ground propulsion devices are configured to move the unmanned aerial vehicle across the surface while the one or more air propulsion devices engage the one or more ground propulsion devices against the surface.

28. (canceled)