METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RECONFIGURABLE POWER EXCHANGE FOR MULTIPLE UAV TYPES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power station for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), comprising:
- an enclosure defining a surface and an interior; and
a landing zone positioned upon the surface and sized to receive one or more UAV types, wherein the landing zone has one or more markers or emitters configured to generate one or more composite images when a UAV is in proximity to the landing zone.
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Abstract
A reconfigurable system capable of autonomously exchanging material from unmanned vehicles of various types and sizes. The system comprises an environmental enclosure, a landing area, a universal mechanical system to load and unload material from the unmanned vehicle, and a central processor that manages the aforementioned tasks. The landing area may comprise a one or more visible or non-visible markers/emitters capable of generating composite images to assist in landing the unmanned vehicle upon the reconfigurable, autonomous system.
46 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A power station for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), comprising:
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an enclosure defining a surface and an interior; and a landing zone positioned upon the surface and sized to receive one or more UAV types, wherein the landing zone has one or more markers or emitters configured to generate one or more composite images when a UAV is in proximity to the landing zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A reconfigurable power station for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), comprising:
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a housing defining a surface, one or more modular power bays positioned within the housing, the modular power bay defining one or more receiving bays for retaining a corresponding swap cartridge; a landing zone positioned upon the surface and sized to receive one or more UAV types, wherein the landing zone has one or more markers or emitters configured to generate one or more composite images when a UAV is in proximity to the landing zone; and a central processor in communication with the one or more markers or emitters. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of swapping a power supply in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
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emitting one or more composite images to a UAV via one or more markers or emitters when the UAV is in proximity to a landing zone located on a reconfigurable power station (RPS); determining an orientation of the UAV relative to the landing zone after the UAV has landed; removing a first swap cartridge from the UAV via a swapping mechanism within the RPS; and installing a second swap cartridge from the RPS and into the UAV. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A UAV reconfigurable power station (RPS), comprising:
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a dynamic terminal landing system (DTL) configured to support autonomous landing of a UAVs on a landing zone, wherein the DTL comprises a UAV landing zone that is reconfigurable for multiple UAV types and sizes and is further configured to support landing, exchanging a swap cartridge, and take-off operations; a power source capable of powering a UAV flight system once on the landing zone; one or more modular power bays (MPBs) capable of housing multiple instances of a given universal swap cartridge (SC); a universal swap cartridge swapping mechanism configured for manipulating multiple SC types and sizes; a RPS central processor (CP) configured to support operations of the RPS; and a sensor positioned within the RPS. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A Universal Swap Cartridge Processor (USP), comprising:
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a housing configured to be integrated into a UAV flight controller or airframe; a processor within the housing and configured to control an automated landing and launch of a UAV from an RPS; an external transmitter capable of wirelessly transmitting a power source health and identifying data of an SC to the RPS, other UAVs in proximity, or other ground stations; an external receiver capable of wirelessly receiving data from the RPS, other UAVs in proximity, or other ground stations, wherein the USP is configured to relay data to a UAV or UAV flight controller; and one or more cameras configured to capture visible and/or non-visible data from a landing zone located on an RPS.
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Specification