UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH PROPELLER PROTECTION AND HIGH IMPACT-SURVIVABILITY

• US 20160221671A1
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vantage Robotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Vantage Robotics, LLC
• Inventors: Van Niekerk, Johannes Becker, Fisher, Tobin
• Granted Patent: US 10,974,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/32 Rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• 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 20/65 Composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a body that supports breakaway components. One component is a battery pack which powers the vehicle. Two other components are pod assemblies, which each include at least one motor and one propeller. Each motor is supported within a support ring using spokes or filament. The spokes keep the motor firmly stable during operation and also effectively encage the otherwise dangerous spinning propeller. This allows the vehicle to operate with a higher level of safety than conventional UAVs. The breakaway feature can be established using magnets.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a UAV body;

a plurality of shielded propellers releasably secured relative to the UAV body, each shielded propeller including;

a propeller;

an outer guard ring; and

protective structures extending radially inward from the outer guard ring on opposite sides of the propeller;

a battery housing releasably secured relative to the UAV body, wherein at least one of the battery or the plurality of shielded propellers are configured to release from the UAV body upon impact.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the protective structures of the plurality of shielded propellers comprise a plurality of apertures extending therethrough to reduce the impact of protective structures on airflow from the propellers.

3. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shielded propellers includes a first pair of shielded propellers having a bridge structure extending between the outer guard rings of the first pair of shielded propellers, the bridge structure including an electrical coupling mechanism and a mechanical coupling mechanism.

4. The UAV of claim 3, wherein:

the electrical coupling mechanism includes a plurality of electric contacts configured to provide power and control to the first pair of controllers; and

the mechanical coupling mechanism includes a plurality of magnets configured to releasably secure the bridge structure relative to the UAV body.

5. The UAV of claim 4, wherein the plurality of magnets includes a first arrangement of magnets on the bridge structure and a second arrangement of magnets on the UAV body configured to be aligned with the first arrangement of magnets on the bridge structure, and arranged in a pattern which compels a particular orientation of the first pair of shielded propellers relative to the UAV body.

6. The UAV of claim 3, wherein the plurality of shielded propellers includes a second pair of shielded propellers having a bridge structure extending between the outer guard rings of the first pair of shielded propellers, and wherein at least one guard ring of the first pair of shielded propellers is configured to be magnetically secured relative to at least one guard ring of the second pair of shielded propellers.

7. The UAV of claim 6, wherein the at least one guard ring of the first pair of shielded propellers includes a first plurality of magnets and the at least one guard ring of the second pair of shielded propellers includes a second plurality of magnets configured to be aligned with a first plurality of magnets, and wherein the first and second plurality of magnets are arranged such that the polarities of the first and second plurality of magnets compel a particular orientation between the first and second pairs of shielded propellers.

8. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the battery housing includes:

an electrical coupling mechanism including a plurality of electric contacts configured to place the battery in electric communication with the UAV body; and

a mechanical coupling mechanism including a plurality of magnets configured to releasably secure the battery housing relative to the UAV body

9. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shielded propellers include a first pair of shielded propellers having a bridge structure extending between the outer guard rings of the first pair of shielded propellers, the bridge structure including an electrical coupling mechanism and a mechanical coupling mechanism, the UAV additionally comprising:

a camera module; and

a vibration isolation mechanism for isolating the camera module from the vibration of the plurality of shielded propellers, wherein the vibration isolation mechanism forms a part of a mechanical connection between the mechanical coupling mechanism and the first pair of shielded propellers.

10. A propeller assembly for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the propeller assembly comprising:

a propeller comprising;

a central hub; and

at least one propeller blade configured to rotate in a first plane through a first swept volume about the central hub; and

a propeller guard assembly, comprising

a guard ring disposed radially outward of the first swept volume of the at least one propeller blade;

a first guard structure located on a first side of the at least one propeller blade and configured to allow airflow therethrough; and

a second guard structure located on a second side of the at least one propeller blade and configured to allow airflow therethrough.

11. The propeller assembly of claim 10, wherein the propeller is configured to generate airflow towards the second guard structure, and wherein the second guard structure extends across the guard ring and is not coplanar with the first swept volume of the at least one propeller blade, and wherein the second guard structure supports the central hub of the propeller.

12. The propeller assembly of claim 10, wherein the first guard structure extends inward from the guard ring and comprises a central aperture overlying at least a portion of the first swept volume of the at least one propeller blade.

13. The propeller assembly of any of claim 10, additionally comprising:

a second propeller comprising;

a central hub; and

at least one propeller blade configured to rotate in a second plane through a second swept volume about the central hub;

a second propeller guard assembly, comprising;

a guard ring disposed radially outward of the second swept volume of the at least one propeller blade of the second propeller;

a first guard structure located on a first side of the at least one propeller blade of the second propeller and configured to allow airflow therethrough; and

a second guard structure located on a second side of the at least one propeller blade of the second propeller and configured to allow airflow therethrough; and

a bridge support extending between the guard ring of the first propeller guard assembly and the guard ring of the second propeller guard assembly.

14. The propeller assembly of claim 13, wherein the bridge support includes:

an electrical coupling mechanism including a plurality of contact pads in electrical communication with at least one of the central hubs of the first or second controllers; and

a mechanical coupling mechanism including a plurality of magnets.

15. The propeller assembly of claim 10, additionally comprising:

a third propeller comprising;

a central hub; and

at least one propeller blade configured to rotate in a third plane through a third swept volume about the central hub;

a third propeller guard assembly, comprising;

a guard ring disposed radially outward of the third swept volume of the at least one propeller blade of the third propeller;

a first guard structure located on a first side of the at least one propeller blade of the third propeller and configured to allow airflow therethrough; and

a second guard structure located on a second side of the at least one propeller blade of the third propeller and configured to allow airflow therethrough; and

a fourth propeller comprising;

a central hub; and

at least one propeller blade configured to rotate in a fourth plane through a fourth swept volume about the central hub;

a fourth propeller guard assembly, comprising;

a guard ring disposed radially outward of the second swept volume of the at least one propeller blade of the fourth propeller;

a first guard structure located on a first side of the at least one propeller blade of the fourth propeller and configured to allow airflow therethrough; and

a second guard structure located on a second side of the at least one propeller blade of the fourth propeller and configured to allow airflow therethrough; and

a second bridge structure extending between the guard ring of the third propeller guard assembly and the guard ring of the fourth propeller guard assembly.

16. The propeller assembly of claim 15, wherein the guard ring of the first propeller guard assembly is releasably secured relative to the guard ring of the third propeller guard assembly using at least one of a magnet or a hinge, and wherein the guard ring of the second propeller guard assembly is releasably secured relative to the guard ring of the fourth propeller guard assembly using at least one of a magnet or a hinge.

17. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a fuselage extending between a nose and a tail, the fuselage comprising;

a first attachment site including a first electrical connector and a first mechanical connector;

a second attachment site including a second electrical connector and a second mechanical connector, the second attachment site located closer to the tail than the first attachment site; and

a third attachment site including a third electrical connector and a third mechanical connector, the third attachment site located closer to the tail than the second attachment site;

a battery pack releasably secured to the fuselage at the second attachment site;

a first thrust pod pair assembly releasably secured to the fuselage at the first attachment site; and

a second thrust pod pair assembly releasably secured to the fuselage at the third attachment site.

18. The UAV of claim 17, wherein the first thrust pod pair assembly comprises:

a first thrust pod comprising;

a first propeller; and

a first guard ring extending around the first propeller;

a second thrust pod comprising;

a second propeller; and

a second guard ring disposed radially outward of the second propeller; and

a bridge structure extending between the first and second guard rings.

19. The UAV of claim 18, wherein the bridge structure comprises:

a fourth electrical connector configured to connect with the first electrical connector at the first attachment site of the fuselage; and

a fourth mechanical connector configured to connect with the first mechanical connector at the first attachment site of the fuselage.

20. The UAV of claim 17, additionally including a camera module located adjacent the nose of the fuselage.

21. The UAV of claim 20, wherein the bridge structure includes at least one flexible vibration isolation mount.

22. The UAV of claim 17, wherein the first thrust pod pair assembly is secured to the second pod pair assembly via at least one of a magnetic connection and a hinge.