POD LAUNCH AND LANDING SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING (VTOL)UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVS)

• US 20170144776A1
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Fisher, Christopher Eugene, Mukherjee, Jason Sidharthadev, Lott, William Arden
• Granted Patent: US 10,336,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/02 having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/005 Protective coverings for aircraft not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/24 Adaptations of turntables
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, including: a UAV pod having an interior; and a telescoping UAV landing surface disposed in the interior of the UAV pod; where the telescoping UAV landing surface may translate up toward a top opening of the UAV pod, translate down into an interior of the UAV pod, or rotate relative to the UAV pod.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, comprising:

a UAV pod having an interior; and

a telescoping UAV landing surface disposed in the interior of the UAV pod;

wherein the telescoping UAV landing surface may translate up toward a top opening of the UAV pod, translate down into an interior of the UAV pod, or rotate relative to the UAV pod.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the telescoping UAV landing surface further comprises one or more guides for aligning a wing of a UAV.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more guides comprises a rigid alignment tab that extends upward from the telescoping UAV landing surface.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more guides comprises opposing guides that taper together towards their bases to form a generally scalloped surface.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the generally scalloped surface of the opposing guides rotatably guides the wing of the UAV into a predetermined angular orientation relative to the telescoping UAV landing surface.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more guides are at least one of:

rails, posts, and paddles.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more guides comprise guide paddles, wherein each pair of guide paddles forms a V-channel that guide the wing of the UAV into a proper angular orientation relative to the UAV pod to enable translation of the UAV into the UAV pod.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more guides comprise guide posts, wherein the guide posts are spaced apart to allow the wing of the UAV to be seated between the guide posts.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the telescoping UAV landing surface is rotatable relative to the UAV pod to account for crosswind during a launch of a UAV seated in the UAV landing surface.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the telescoping UAV landing surface may be rotated relative to the UAV pod to align a wing of a UAV seated on the UAV landing surface subsequent to a landing of the UAV.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the telescoping UAV landing surface may be rotated relative to the UAV pod to a predetermined alignment with the UAV pod.

12. A method comprising:

transitioning a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pod from a closed position to an open position, wherein a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV enclosed in the UAV pod is protected from the elements in the closed position;

translating a UAV landing surface up to a top opening of the UAV pod in the open position; and

launching a VTOL UAV from the UAV landing surface.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

translating, subsequent to launching the VTOL UAV, the UAV landing surface to an interior of the UAV pod; and

transitioning the UAV pod from the open position to the closed position.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

transitioning the UAV pod from the closed position to the open position;

translating the UAV landing surface up to the top opening of the UAV pod; and

landing the VTOL UAV on the landing surface.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

rotating the UAV landing surface relative to the UAV pod such that a wing of the VTOL UAV does not impinge on any side walls of the UAV pod as the UAV is translated to an interior of the UAV pod;

translating the UAV landing surface to the interior of the UAV pod; and

transitioning the UAV pod from the open position to the closed position.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

rotating, prior to launching the VTOL UAV, the UAV landing surface relative to the UAV pod to account for crosswind.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein rotating the UAV landing surface relative to the UAV pod further comprises:

generating, by at least one motor of the VTOL UAV, a reverse thrust to create an asymmetric force to rotate the UAV landing surface.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

landing the VTOL UAV on the landing surface;

translating the UAV landing surface to an interior of the UAV pod; and

transitioning the UAV pod from the open position to the closed position.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

rotating, prior to translating the UAV landing surface, the UAV landing surface relative to the UAV pod such that the wings of the UAV do not impinge on any side walls of the UAV pod.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein rotating the UAV landing surface relative to the UAV pod further comprises:

generating, by at least one motor of the VTOL UAV, a reverse thrust to create an asymmetric force to rotate the UAV landing surface.

21. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, comprising:

a UAV pod, wherein the UAV pod may transition from a closed position to an open position; and

a rotatable UAV landing surface disposed inside the UAV pod in the closed position;

wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface may rotate relative to the UAV pod.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface may be rotated relative to the UAV pod to a predetermined alignment in the open position.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

two or more regions disposed on an interior surface of the UAV pod;

wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface may rotate one or more contact points of a UAV resting on the rotatable landing surface to align the one or more contact points of the UAV with at least one of the two or more regions for data transmission between the UAV and the UAV pod.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface may translate to elevate the UAV above the two or more regions, rotate the UAV landing surface to align the one or more contact points with the at least one of the two or more regions, and translate to lower the UAV to make contact between the one or more contact points of the UAV and the at least one of the two or more regions.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface further comprises one or more guides for aligning a wing of a UAV.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the one or more guides comprises a rigid alignment tab that extends upward from the telescoping UAV landing surface.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the one or more guides comprises opposing guides that taper together towards their bases to form a generally scalloped surface.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the generally scalloped surface of the opposing guides rotatably guides the wing of the UAV into a predetermined angular orientation relative to the telescoping UAV landing surface as the wing slides along the scalloped surface.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the one or more guides are at least one of:

rails, posts, and paddles.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the one or more guides comprise guide paddles, wherein each pair of guide paddles forms a V-channel that guide the wing of the UAV into a proper angular orientation relative to the UAV pod.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the one or more guides comprise guide posts, wherein the guide posts are spaced apart to allow the wing of the UAV to be seated between the guide posts.

32. The system of claim 21 wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface may be rotated relative to the UAV pod to account for crosswind during a launch of a UAV seated in the UAV landing surface.

33. The system of claim 21 wherein the rotatable UAV landing surface may be rotated relative to the UAV pod to align a wing of a UAV seated in the UAV landing surface subsequent to a landing of the UAV.