DURABLE MODULAR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A motor hub assembly, comprising:
- a motor supported by a motor mount;
an outer protective structure circumscribing and spaced apart from the motor mount;
a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from the mount and extending at least between the mount and the protective structure, the plurality of spokes being substantially more resistant to flexure out of a plane normal to a rotational axis of the motor than to flexure parallel to the plane normal to the rotational axis of the motor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage that supports breakaway components that are attached using magnets. One component is a battery pack which powers the vehicle. Another component is a rotor set including two identical pod pairs that each support a motor and a propeller. Each motor is attached to a hub assembly that includes a plurality of spokes captured in a motor hub and sandwiched by a rigid motor printed circuit board on top and a rigid hub plate. The hub assembly construction is rigid in plane and functions to keep the motor firmly stable during operation. The hub assembly is compliant and resilient when impacted parallel to the plane. Other features of the pod pairs encage the otherwise dangerous spinning propeller. This allows the vehicle to operate with a higher level of safety than conventional UAVs.
36 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A motor hub assembly, comprising:
-
a motor supported by a motor mount; an outer protective structure circumscribing and spaced apart from the motor mount; a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from the mount and extending at least between the mount and the protective structure, the plurality of spokes being substantially more resistant to flexure out of a plane normal to a rotational axis of the motor than to flexure parallel to the plane normal to the rotational axis of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A motor hub assembly comprising:
-
a compliant motor mount; a plurality of carbon fiber spokes fastened to the motor mount and constrained compressively substantially in plane by a top rigid hub plate and a bottom rigid hub plate; and a protective outer ring, each of the plurality of fiber spokes fastened to the outer ring. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A thrust pod assembly comprising:
-
a protective structure, the protective structure comprising; an upper portion comprising; an inner hoop; an outer hoop; and a plurality of protective ribs connecting the inner hoop to the outer hoop; a bottom part comprising an outer hoop; and a cylindrical rim fastened to the outer hoop of the top part and the outer hoop of the bottom part a compliant motor mount; and a plurality of carbon fiber spokes, each spoke fastened at one end to the outer hoop of the bottom part of the protective structure, the plurality of spokes constrained compressively substantially in plane by a top rigid hub plate and a bottom rigid hub plate.
-
Specification