METHODS FOR LAUNCHING AND LANDING AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

• US 20160313742A1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: WANG, Ming-yu
• Granted Patent: US 9,696,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• 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 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/00 Propulsion; Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/20 specially adapted for uneven terrain
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/10 for releasing or capturing UAVs by hand
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/30 with arrangements for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0669 specially adapted for vertical take-off
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for launching and landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including multi-rotor aircrafts. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein utilize positional change of the UAV, visual signal, or other means to effect the launch or landing. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are user friendly, particularly to amateur UAV users lacking practice of operating a UAV.

Claims

1. A method for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

(a) detecting a positional change of the UAV; and

(b) in response to the detected positional change, activating the UAV to generate a lift and/or thrust.

4. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein the detecting step is performed by a sensor on the UAV.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the positional change includes one member selected from the group consisting of a change in velocity, a change of acceleration, a change in orientation of the UAV, and a change in location with respect to a reference object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the positional change is detected by a visual sensor, an inertial sensor, a GPS receiver, a magnetometer, compass, or an altimeter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the positional change is caused by detachment from a support supporting the UAV.

9. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the generating the lift and/or thrust is effectuated by an on-board controller configured to be in communication with said sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the UAV is a rotor aircraft.

14. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lift and/or thrust is generated in less than about 1 second from said detecting of step (a).

2. A method for launching an unmanned rotorcraft comprising a visual sensor and one or more rotor blades, said method comprising:

(a) detecting, by the rotorcraft, a visual signal generated by an operator of said rotorcraft; and

(b) in response to the detected visual signal, activating the one or more rotor blades to generate a lift and/or thrust.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a camera on- or off-board the UAV.

11. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein activating the UAV is performed when the UAV reaches a vertical velocity of zero.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual signal includes a gesture or movement of a human body.

3. A method for launching an unmanned rotorcraft comprising one or more rotor blades, at least one sensor being configured to detect release of a grip of said rotorcraft by a hand, the method comprising:

(a) detecting by the sensor, the release of the grip by said hand; and

(b) in response to the detected release of the grip, generating an activating signal to actuate the one or more rotor blades of the rotorcraft to generate a lift and/or thrust.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein the release of the grip by said hand results in one or more of:

setting in motion in an arched trajectory, tossing into the air, catapulting into the air, and retracting or allowing said rotorcraft to fall towards the earth.

15. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising

(a) one or more rotor blades;

(b) a sensor configured to detect (1) a positional change of the UAV, (2) a visual signal generated by an operator of said UAV, or (3) release of a grip by a hand onto said UAV;

(c) a controller configured to provide an actuating signal for activating the UAV in response to the detected positional change or a visual signal; and

(d) an actuator configured to cause the one or more rotor blades to move and generate a lift and/or thrust in response to the actuating signal or the visual signal.

19. The UAV of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to be in communication with the sensor and to provide said actuating signal in response to the detected positional change and/or visual signal.

16. The UAV of claim 16, wherein the sensor senses a change in velocity, a change of acceleration, a change in orientation of the UAV, and a change in location with respect to a reference object.

17. The UAV of claim 16, wherein the sensor is a visual sensor, an inertial sensor, a GPS receiver, a magnetometer, compass, or an altimeter, a touch sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, photosensor, or a magnet.

18. The UAV of claim 17, wherein the visual sensor is a camera located on board of said UAV or off-board camera configured to be in communication with said UAV.

20. A method for decelerating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

detecting by a sensor on the UAV, an external contact exerted upon said UAV while said UAV is airborne; and

generating by said UAV a decelerating signal in response to the detected external contact, thereby decelerating said UAV.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said UAV comprises a holding member attached thereto, and wherein the sensor is configured to detect the external contact exerted by way of capturing said holding member by a hand.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein UAV is a rotorcraft including one or more rotor blades, and said decelerating causes the one or more rotor blades to slow down, stall, or come to a complete stop.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said decelerating signal effects landing of said UAV at a designated location.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the external contact is detected by a sensor selected from the group consisting of a touch sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, photosensor, and a magnet.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said decelerating includes one or more of:

causing a decrease in altitude of the UAV, causing a change in attitude of the UAV, causing a reduction in velocity of the UAV, and causing a negative change in acceleration of the UAV.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein generating said decelerating signal is effectuated by a controller located in said UAV.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising detecting a positional change and generating a decelerating signal to the UAV in response to both the detected external contact and the positional change.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the positional change is selected from the group consisting of a change in velocity, a change of acceleration, a change in orientation of the UAV, and a change in location with respect to a reference object.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said decelerating signal is generated in less than about [1 second] from detecting said external contact.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein said holding member includes a handle, rod, rope, a landing leg, a structural extension, a hook, or a loop.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein said holding member is located at a distance sufficiently far from one or more rotors of said UAV to avoid causing undesired impact to the hand.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining that the UAV has been captured by a human hand for period of time that exceeds a predetermined threshold value and causing the UAV to come to a stop based on said determination.

33. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of detecting a visual signal from a photosensor and wherein said decelerating signal is generated based on both the detected capture and the detected visual signal.

34. A method for landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

(a) detecting a positional change of the UAV while said UAV is airborne by the UAV or a visual signal generated by an operator of said UAV; and

(b) in response to the detected positional change and/or the visual signal, generating a deceleration signal to said UAV to bring said UAV to a stop.

35. The method of claim [34], wherein the positional change is selected from the group consisting of a change in velocity, a change of acceleration, a change in orientation of the UAV, and a change in location of said UAV with respect to a reference object.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the positional change is caused by capturing the UAV in whole or in part by a mechanical or a human hand.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the positional change is detected by a visual sensor, an inertial sensor, a GPS receiver, a magnetometer, compass, or an altimeter.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the visual signal includes a gesture or movement of a human body.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the visual signal is detected by a visual sensor located on- or off-board the UAV.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the visual sensor comprises a camera located on said UAV.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the visual sensor is configured to be in communication with a controller of said UAV, said controller generating the deceleration signal to bring said UAV to a stop.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the UAV is brought to a stop in less than about [1 second] from detecting said positional change or said visual signal.

43. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising

a sensor configured to detect a positional change experienced by the UAV and/or a visual signal generated by an operator of said UAV;

a controller configured to provide a deactivating signal for decelerating the UAV in response to the detected positional change and/or the visual signal; and

an actuator configured to cause said UAV to decelerate in response to the deactivating signal.

44. The UAV of claim 43, wherein the sensor is a visual sensor, an inertial sensor, a GPS receiver, a magnetometer, compass, or an altimeter.

45. The UAV of claim 43, wherein the UAV is a rotorcraft including one or more rotor blades, and wherein said decelerating signal causes the one or more rotor blades to slow down, stall, or come to a complete stop.

46. The UAV of claim 43, wherein the visual sensor is configured to be in communication with said controller to effect providing said deactivating signal for decelerating the UAV in response to the detected visual signal.

47. The UAV of claim 43, wherein the visual signal is a gesture of a human operator.