UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

• US 20160229534A1
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hutson, Donald Bolden
• Granted Patent: US 9,630,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/38 endless-track type
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• 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: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/299 Rotor guards ducted or shrouded rotors B64U30/26; guards used as ground propulsion B64U60/60
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

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;

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

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

a first payload interface configured to engage a first object.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the first payload interface is disposed on a bottom side of the frame portion.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 2,

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to engage the first object by maneuvering over the first object using the one or more ground propulsion devices, so that the first payload interface is aligned over the first object.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the first object comprises a first physical configuration on a top portion, and

wherein the first physical configuration is configured to be engaged by the first payload interface.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 4,

wherein the first physical configuration comprises a rim on the top portion of the first object, and

wherein the first payload interface comprises articulating fingers configured to grip the rim.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the first payload interface comprises a tab for aligning a rear of the first object with a rear of the first payload interface.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the first object comprises a protrusion on a top portion of the first object,

wherein the first payload interface comprises an indentation on a bottom portion of the first payload interface, and

wherein the protrusion is configured to fit into the indentation when the first payload interface is aligned in a predefined position over the first object.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 7,

wherein the protrusion is configured to fit into the indentation when an electrical connector provided on the bottom portion of the first payload interface is aligned in a predefined position over an electrical connector provided on the top portion of the first object.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the first object comprises electrical connectors on a top portion,

wherein the first payload interface comprises electrical connectors on a bottom portion, and

wherein the electrical connectors on the top portion of the first object form electrical connections with the electrical connectors on the bottom portion of the first payload interface when the first payload interface engages the first object.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9,

wherein data signals are transferred between an electronic component in the first object and an electronic component in the unmanned aerial vehicle using the electrical connections formed when the first payload interface engages the first object.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9,

wherein electrical power is transferred between an electronic component in the first object and an electronic component in the unmanned aerial vehicle using the electrical connections formed when the first payload interface engages the first object.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the first payload interface is configured to engage the first object by gripping a surface of the first object.

13. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 12,

wherein the first payload interface comprises articulating fingers configured to engage the first object by gripping a surface of the first object.

14. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13,

wherein the first payload interface is configured to lift the first object upwards after the articulating fingers have gripped the surface of the first object.

15. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 14,

wherein the first payload interface is configured to lift the first object upwards a sufficient distance so that the unmanned aerial vehicle may move along a ground surface without the first object striking the ground surface while the first object is engaged by the first payload interface.

16. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13,

wherein the articulating fingers are configured to continue gripping the surface of the first object so that the unmanned aerial vehicle is able to perform aerial flight while engaging the first object.

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

a second payload interface configured to engage a second object.

18. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 17,

wherein the first payload interface is disposed on a bottom side of the frame portion, and

wherein the second payload interface is disposed on a top side of the frame portion.

19. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 17,

wherein the first payload interface is disposed on a first side of the frame portion, and

wherein the second payload interface is disposed on a second side of the frame portion.

20. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 19,

wherein the first side of the frame portion is opposite the second side of the frame portion.

21. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 19,

wherein the second payload interface is configured to engage the second object by gripping a surface of the second object.

22. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 21,

wherein the second payload interface comprises articulating fingers configured to engage the second object by gripping a surface of the second object.

23. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 22,

wherein the second payload interface is configured to pull the second object downwards after the articulating fingers have gripped the surface of the second object.

24. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 23,

wherein the second payload interface is configured to pull the second object downwards a sufficient distance so that the unmanned aerial vehicle may move along a ground surface without the second object striking a surface above the unmanned aerial vehicle while the second object is engaged by the second payload interface.

25. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 22,

wherein the articulating fingers are configured to continue gripping the surface of the second object so that the unmanned aerial vehicle is able to perform aerial flight while engaging the second object.

26. A method of manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a frame portion;

providing one or more air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion through the air;

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

providing a first payload interface configured to engage a first object.

27. The method of claim 26,

wherein the first payload interface is disposed on a bottom side of the frame portion.

28. The method of claim 27,

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to engage the first object by maneuvering over the first object using the one or more ground propulsion devices, so that the first payload interface is aligned over the first object.

29. The method of claim 26,

wherein the first object comprises a first physical configuration on a top portion, and

wherein the first physical configuration is configured to be engaged by the first payload interface.

30. The method of claim 29,

wherein the first physical configuration comprises a rim on the top portion of the first object, and

wherein the first payload interface comprises articulating fingers configured to grip the rim.