SELECTING PROPELLERS FOR PERFORMANCE AND NOISE SHAPING
First Claim
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
a first motor mounted to the frame;
a second motor mounted to the frame;
a first propeller coupled to the first motor, wherein the first propeller is substantially statically balanced and substantially dynamically balanced;
a second propeller coupled to the second motor, wherein the second propeller is at least one of statically imbalanced or dynamically imbalanced, and wherein the second propeller is configured to emit a first sound having a first sound pressure level and within a first frequency spectrum when rotated at a critical speed; and
a computing device having a memory and one or more computer processors,wherein the computing device is configured to at least;
initiate a first operation of the first motor at a first time; and
initiate a second operation of the second motor at a second time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aerial vehicles may be operated with discrete sets of propellers, which may be selected for a specific purpose or on a specific basis. The discrete sets of propellers may be operated separately or in tandem with one another, and at varying power levels. For example, a set of propellers may be selected to optimize the thrust, lift, maneuverability or efficiency of an aerial vehicle based on a position or other operational characteristic of the aerial vehicle, or an environmental condition encountered by the aerial vehicle. At least one of the propellers may be statically or dynamically imbalanced, such that the propeller emits a predetermined sound during operation. A balanced propeller may be specifically modified to cause the aerial vehicle to emit the predetermined sound by changing one or more parameters of the balanced propeller and causing the balanced propeller to be statically or dynamically imbalanced.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a first motor mounted to the frame; a second motor mounted to the frame; a first propeller coupled to the first motor, wherein the first propeller is substantially statically balanced and substantially dynamically balanced; a second propeller coupled to the second motor, wherein the second propeller is at least one of statically imbalanced or dynamically imbalanced, and wherein the second propeller is configured to emit a first sound having a first sound pressure level and within a first frequency spectrum when rotated at a critical speed; and a computing device having a memory and one or more computer processors, wherein the computing device is configured to at least; initiate a first operation of the first motor at a first time; and initiate a second operation of the second motor at a second time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method to operate an aerial vehicle having a first set of propellers and a second set of propellers, the method comprising:
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initiating a first operation of each of a first set of motors at a first time, wherein each of the first set of motors is coupled to one of the first set of propellers; and initiating a second operation of each of a second set of motors at a second time, wherein each of the second set of motors is coupled to one of the second set of propellers, wherein at least one of the first set of propellers is not statically balanced or is not dynamically balanced. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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causing a first propeller to rotate to at least a critical speed, wherein the first propeller has a plurality of blades; determining characteristics of a sound radiating from the first propeller at at least the critical speed, wherein the characteristics of the sound comprise at least one of a first sound pressure level or a first frequency spectrum; identify characteristics of a preferred sound, wherein the characteristics of the preferred sound comprise at least one of a second sound pressure level or a second frequency spectrum; determining a difference between at least one of the characteristics of the sound radiating from the first propeller at at least the critical speed and at least one of the characteristics of the preferred sound using at least one computer processor; modifying the first propeller based at least in part on the difference; coupling the first propeller to a first motor mounted to an aerial vehicle at a first time; and initiating a first operation of the first motor after the first time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification