ENCLOSED DRONE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF

• US 20160137293A1
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uavpatent Corporation
• Original Assignee: Skypersonic LLC
• Inventors: Santangelo, Giuseppe
• Application Number:
  US14/265,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20160137293A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft
• 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 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/60 with rolling cages

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus (100) that includes an air vehicle assembly (150) that is at least partially enclosed within a protective enclosure assembly (120) The protective enclosure assembly (120) is typically at least partially elastic, to protect the air vehicle assembly (150) from bumps, collisions, and other similar occurrences. The enclosure assembly (120) can also facilitate the ability of the apparatus (100) to operate in a ground movement mode (114), such as a rolling mode (116), in addition to a flying mode (112).

Claims

1. A drone apparatus (100), comprising:

an enclosure assembly (120); and

an air vehicle assembly (150) securely positioned within said enclosure assembly (120);

wherein said drone apparatus (100) provides for operating in a plurality of modes (110), said plurality of modes (110) including a flight mode (112) and ground mode (114).

2. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein said ground mode (114) is a rolling mode (116).

4. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein said enclosure assembly (120) includes:

a plurality of enclosure members (130); and

a plurality of enclosure openings (136);

wherein said enclosure assembly (120) is a substantially spherical enclosure assembly (123).

5. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 2, wherein said plurality of enclosure members (130) includes a plurality of horizontal enclosure members (134) and a plurality of vertical enclosure members (132), and wherein said plurality of enclosure openings (136) are filled by a plurality of air-permeable mesh surfaces (138).

6. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein said ground mode (114) is a rolling mode (116).

7. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein said air vehicle assembly (150) is a quad-copter air vehicle (160).

8. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein said air vehicle assembly (150) includes a plurality of propellers (162) located within the same horizontal plane.

9. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein said air vehicle assembly (150) includes a plurality of propellers (162) and a frame (170), wherein said propellers (162) are attached to said frame (170), and wherein a plurality of connectors (178) connect said frame (170) to said enclosure assembly (120).

10. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein said air vehicle assembly (150) includes:

a frame (170), said frame comprising a plurality of frame members (174);

a plurality of propellers (162) positioned on said plurality of frame members (174);

a base (173) positioned one or more said frame members (174);

wherein said plurality of propellers (162) are each positioned facing upwards from said plurality of frame members (174) when said apparatus (100) is positioned on a bottom (102) of said apparatus (100).

3. The drone apparatus (100) of claim, said drone apparatus further comprising a processor (176) that provides for receiving an instruction (178) from a remote control unit (99).

11. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 11, wherein said at least one said propeller (162) directs air upwards and at least one said propeller (162) directs air downwards when said drone apparatus (100) is a ground operating mode (114).

12. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 11, said drone apparatus (100) further comprising an inertial measurement system (182), a camera (185), an antenna (188), and a GPS device (190).

13. A drone apparatus (100), comprising:

an enclosure assembly (120), wherein said enclosure assembly is a substantially spherical enclosure assembly (123) that includes a plurality of surfaces (135) and a plurality of openings (136);

an air vehicle assembly (150), said air vehicle assembly (150) including a frame (170) securely attached to the interior of said enclosure assembly (120), said air vehicle assembly (150) further including a plurality of propellers (162) and a plurality of motors (164) securely positioned on said frame (170);

wherein said drone apparatus (100) provides for operating in a plurality of operating modes (110), said plurality of modes including a flying mode (112) and a rolling mode (116).

14. The drone apparatus (100) of claim 13, wherein said plurality of surfaces (135) in said substantially spherical enclosure assembly (123) is comprised of substantially elastic material, wherein said air vehicle assembly (150) includes at least four propellers (162) positioned within the same horizontal plane and facing the same direction.

15. A method for operating a drone apparatus (100) that that provides for operating in plurality of modes (110) that includes a ground mode (114), wherein said drone apparatus (100) includes a plurality of propellers (162), said method comprising:

selectively reversing air flow direction for at least one said propeller (162) when said drone apparatus (100) is in a ground mode (114).

16. The method for operating a drone apparatus (100) of claim 15, wherein said ground mode (114) provides for rolling said drone apparatus (100) on an exterior surface.

17. The method for operating a drone apparatus (100) of claim 15, wherein said drone apparatus (100) includes at least four said propellers (162), said method comprising selectively reversing said air flow direction for at least two said propellers (162) when said drone apparatus (100) is in a ground mode (114).

18. The method for operating a drone apparatus (100) of claim 15, said method further comprising:

receiving an instruction (178) from a remote control unit (99); and

changing said operation mode (110) in accordance with said instruction (178).

19. The method for operating a drone apparatus (100) of claim 15, said method further comprising:

changing from a flying operating mode (112) to a rolling operating mode (116) by reversing the airflow of at least one propeller (162).

20. The method for operating a drone apparatus (100) of claim 15, wherein said drone apparatus (100) includes an air vehicle assembly (160) that includes at least four propellers (162), and wherein the airflow for more than one adjacent propellers (160) are reversed to change into a rolling operating mode (116).