AERIAL DRONE OPERATIONS SUPPORT BASE
First Claim
1. A drone operations support base for supporting multiple drones, comprising:
- a drone support platform;
a designated drone launching and landing area on the platform;
a designated drone storage area on the platform, the drone storage area being divisible into multiple drone storage spaces;
a mechanical transfer device having access to the drone launching and landing area and the drone storage area, the mechanical transfer device adapted for moving drones between said areas;
a computerized base control system for controlling base operations;
a flight control subsystem in communication with the base control system, the flight control subsystem adapted to manage drone takeoffs and landings; and
a logistics subsystem in communication with the base control system, the logistics subsystem adapted to maintain drone inventory, and to manage drone storage.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary drone operations support base embodiments disclosed herein may be used to shelter, repower and/or service drones associated therewith. A drone operations support base may include an enclosure with an entryway that permits drone ingress and egress with respect to the enclosure. Drone launching/landing, drone storage and drone power source repowering areas may be associated with a given drone base. A transfer device may be provided to move drones between the various drone base areas. The transfer device may also be adapted to transfer drone power sources between the drone repowering area and drones located elsewhere within the drone base for repowering of the power sources and of the drones.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A drone operations support base for supporting multiple drones, comprising:
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a drone support platform; a designated drone launching and landing area on the platform; a designated drone storage area on the platform, the drone storage area being divisible into multiple drone storage spaces; a mechanical transfer device having access to the drone launching and landing area and the drone storage area, the mechanical transfer device adapted for moving drones between said areas; a computerized base control system for controlling base operations; a flight control subsystem in communication with the base control system, the flight control subsystem adapted to manage drone takeoffs and landings; and a logistics subsystem in communication with the base control system, the logistics subsystem adapted to maintain drone inventory, and to manage drone storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A drone operations support base for supporting multiple drones, comprising:
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an enclosure having a drone support floor; an entryway in said enclosure for permitting drone ingress and egress; a drone launching and landing area located within the enclosure; a drone storage area located within the enclosure, the drone storage area being divisible into multiple drone storage spaces; a drone power source repowering area located within the enclosure; a mechanical transfer device having access to the drone launching and landing area, the drone storage area and the drone power source repowering area, the mechanical transfer device adapted to move drones between the launching and landing area and the storage area, to transfer depleted drone power supplies to the drone power source repowering area for recharging, and to transfer recharged drone power supplies from the drone power source repowering area to drones located elsewhere on the drone support platform; a computerized base control system for controlling base operations; a flight control subsystem in communication with the base control system, the flight control subsystem adapted to manage drone takeoffs and landings; and a logistics subsystem in communication with the base control system, the logistics subsystem adapted to maintain drone inventory, and to manage drone storage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A drone operations support base for supporting multiple drones, comprising:
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an enclosure having side walls and a drone support floor; an entryway in said enclosure for permitting drone ingress and egress; a sliding roof panel that is selectively operable to open or close the entryway so as to permit or deny drone ingress and egress with respect to the enclosure; a drone launching and landing area located within the enclosure; a drone storage area located within the enclosure, the drone storage being divisible into multiple drone storage spaces; a drone power source repowering area located within the enclosure; a mechanical transfer device in the form of a translatable gantry crane equipped with an end effector and having access to the drone launching and landing area, the drone storage area and the drone power source repowering area, the gantry crane adapted to move drones between the launching and landing area and the storage area, to transfer depleted drone power supplies to the drone power source repowering area for recharging, and to transfer recharged drone power supplies from the drone power source repowering area to drones located elsewhere on the drone support platform; a computerized base control system for controlling base operations; a flight control subsystem in communication with the base control system, the flight control subsystem adapted to manage drone takeoffs and landings; and a logistics subsystem in communication with the base control system, the logistics subsystem adapted to maintain drone inventory, and to manage drone storage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification