AUTONOMOUS MULTI-ROTOR AERIAL VEHICLE WITH LANDING AND CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20170139409A1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kind Robotics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Robert Clarke
• Inventors: CLARKE, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/858,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20170139409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• 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 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/003 for aircraft positioning relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/17 taken from planes or by drones
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/194 using hyperspectral data, i.e. more or other wavelengths than RGB
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A remotely deployable network of multi-rotor aircraft and landing stations enable widespread use of multi-rotor aircraft in varied environments and application scenarios. A multi-rotor aircraft having modular components to facilitate a range of applications performs remote operations. Landing stations provide a power source to remote aircraft and facilitate semi-autonomous landing. A computing device facilitates use interaction with a network of multi-rotor aircraft and landing stations that together form a network for transmitting data concerning individual and regional aircraft operations.

Claims

1. A remotely deployable modular drone system comprising:

a multi-rotor aircraft configured for vertical takeoff and landing;

one or more remotely locatable landing pods, each configured to pair with, and provide an electrical charge to, said multi-rotor aircraft;

wherein said multi-rotor aircraft and said landing pods form a network for relaying data to other multi-rotor aircraft and other landing pods;

wherein said multi-rotor aircraft is further configured to coordinate with one of said landing pods to land thereon substantially autonomously.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computing system configured to receive user instruction data and transmit said data to said network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said landing pods further comprise an electromechanical interface to establish an electromechanical connection with said multi-rotor aircraft.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said multi-rotor aircraft receive sensor data collected by said one or more landing pods to facilitate landing.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said sensor sensor data is collected by a pressure sensor.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said sensor sensor data is collected by an infrared proximity sensor

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more landing pods further comprise an electromechanical interface configured to mate with said multi-rotor aircraft and a locking mechanism for securing said multi-rotor aircraft to said landing pod.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said said communications system is further configured to communicate with a remote computing device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said landing pods are configured to operate as part of a ground-based sense-and-avoid system that monitors traffic within a local airspace.

10. A remotely locatable landing pod comprising:

a landing platform configured to receive and support a multi-rotor aircraft;

an electromechanical interface to establish a mechanical connection with said multi-rotor aircraft;

a power supply for providing an electrical charge to a multi-rotor aircraft;

one or more sensors for detecting the presence of a multi-rotor aircraft;

a communications subsystem comprising one or more transceivers for communicating with a multi-rotor aircraft and with other landing pods;

a landing subsystem for analyzing data received by said sensor and communicating with said multi-rotor aircraft to facilitate receipt of said multi-rotor aircraft by said landing platform.

11. The landing pod of claim 10 wherein said electromechanical interface further comprises a power conduit configured to mate with said multi-rotor aircraft and a locking mechanism for securing said multi-rotor aircraft.

12. The landing pod of claim 10 wherein said communications system is further configured to communicate with a remote computing device.

13. The landing pod of claim 10 wherein said communications subsystem is further configured to communicate with a remote computing device and receive instruction from a user on operation of the multi-rotor aircraft.

14. The landing pod of claim 10 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.

15. The landing pod of claim 10 wherein said sensor is an infrared proximity sensor

16. The landing pod of claim 10 wherein said communications subsystem is further configured to exchange data with other landing pods in a network.

17. A communications network comprising:

a plurality of nodes comprising landing pods, multi-rotor aircraft node, and computing devices;

wherein said landing pod nodes and said multi-rotor aircraft comprise a plurality of sensors that generate data concerning the location and status of said nodes;

wherein said nodes are configured to receive, transmit, and relay data from other nodes in the network;

and wherein said computing device is configured to provide instruction to at least one multi-rotor aircraft via said network.

18. The landing pod of claim 17 wherein said sensor is an infrared proximity sensor

19. The landing pod of claim 17 wherein said communications subsystem is further configured to exchange data with other landing pods in a network.