METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE LANDING AND LAUNCH

• US 20160376031A1
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airogistic, LLC
• Original Assignee: Airogistic, LLC
• Inventors: MICHALSKI, Jeff, FOLEY, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,845,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/04 Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0669 specially adapted for vertical take-off
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0065 for taking-off
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 : Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a stand for launching, landing, testing, refueling and recharging a UAV, and methods for testing, landing and launching the UAV are disclosed. Further, embodiments may include transferring a payload onto or off of the UAV, and loading flight planning and diagnostic maintenance information to the UAV.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, stand, the stand comprising:

a base structure; and

a plurality of shafts extending upward from the base structure, the shafts adapted to receive a UAV and to guide the UAV when the UAV is one of launching from the stand or landing on the stand.

2. The stand of claim 1, wherein a portion of the base structure includes a turntable that rotates the shafts to align the shafts with the fittings of the UAV.

3. The stand of claim 1, wherein the shafts are position-able to receive different sized UAVs.

4. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a conductor to make electrical contact with a conductor of the UAV to charge a battery of the UAV when the UAV is landed on the stand.

5. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a fluid nozzle adapted to enable discharging fluid from the UAV when the UAV is landed on the stand.

6. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a sensing system to sense a position and orientation of the UAV with respect to a position and orientation of the stand.

7. The stand of claim 6, wherein the sensing system includes at least one of an optical sensor and a camera to enable at least one of optical and visual alignment of the UAV with respect to the stand.

8. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a control system to generate control signals to influence flight of the UAV during one of landing on the stand and launching from the stand.

9. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a processor to perform pre-flight testing of the UAV.

10. The stand of claim 9, further comprising a processor to perform diagnostic evaluation of the UAV.

11. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a continuously operating reference station (CORS) receiver to facilitate real time kinematic (RTK) calculations of a position of a UAV.

12. The stand of claim 1, wherein the stand is integrated with payload handling equipment to transfer a payload between the stand and a UAV.

13. A server configured to interoperate with at least one stand, the at least one stand providing at least one of landing and launching services to an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, the server comprising:

a first communications interface configured to enable communication between the server and the at least one stand;

a memory configured to store information concerning the at least one stand; and

a processor in communication with the memory and the communications interface, the processor configured to collect the information concerning the at least one stand.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to interoperate with a plurality of stands of a network of stands.

15. The server of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor diagnostic testing of one of the stand and the UAV.

16. The server of claim 13, wherein the collected information includes information concerning services provided by a stand to a UAV.

17. The server of claim 13, wherein the collected information includes an accounting of charges to an owner of a UAV based on use by the UAV of the services of one or more stands.

18. The server of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to generate flight course information associated with a UAV, the flight course information designating at least one stand upon which the UAV is to at least one of launch and land.

19. The server of claim 13, further comprising:

a second communication interface configured to enable communication between the server and a UAV;

and wherein the processor is further configured to track a flight of the UAV.

20. The server of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to authenticate and authorize a UAV to use services of a stand.

21. An enclosure for a stand at which an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, may land and launch, the enclosure comprising:

sides surrounding the stand and spaced apart from the stand to enable the UAV to ascend and descend from the stand without making contact with the sides; and

an activity detector to detect activity within the enclosure.

22. The enclosure of claim 21, further comprising an access door which locks automatically when a UAV is one of landing on the stand and launching from the stand.

23. The enclosure of claim 21, further comprising at least one of an audio alarm and a visual alarm when a UAV is one of landing on the stand and launching from the stand.

24. The enclosure of claim 21, further comprising a retractable surface with an opening through which the UAV may pass.

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

a sensor configured to detect an orientation of a stand upon which the UAV is configured to land; and

a transmitter configured to transmit to the stand an amount and direction of motion to align the UAV with the stand, the amount and direction of motion being derived from the orientation detected by the sensor.

26. The UAV of claim 25, wherein the sensor is a camera that captures a visual target on the stand.

27. The UAV of claim 25, further comprising:

a propulsion system;

a first set of electronic circuitry configured to provide first signals to control the propulsion system during flight of the UAV; and

a second set of electronic circuitry configured to at least one of replace, supplement and alter the first signals with signals specially adapted to affect flight of the UAV during at least one of landing and launching the UAV.

28. The UAV of claim 27, wherein the second set of electronic circuitry is remove-ably install-able on the UAV.

29. A drone drive device, comprising:

electronics configured to generate signals that at least one of replace, supplement and alter signals affecting flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during at least one of landing and launching the UAV, the electronics adapted to be installed on the UAV.

30. The drone drive device of claim 29, wherein the electronics are configured to perturb signals of an inertial drive system of the UAV.

31. The drone drive device of claim 29, wherein the electronics are configured to perturb signals of a flight control system of the UAV.

32. The drone drive device of claim 29, wherein the electronics are configured to alter a position determination to cause an alteration in navigation of the UAV.