FOLDABLE AIRCRAFT WITH PROTECTIVE CAGE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSPORTABILITY

• US 20170291697A1
• Filed: 04/08/2016
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecole polytechnique fãdãrale de lausanne epfl (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Original Assignee: Ecole polytechnique fãdãrale de lausanne epfl (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Inventors: Kornatowski, Przemyslaw Mariusz, Mintchev, Stefano, Floreano, Dario
• Granted Patent: US 10,252,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/006 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/30 for safety, e.g. with frangible components rotor guards B64U30/299
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/299 Rotor guards ducted or shrouded rotors B64U30/26; guards used as ground propulsion B64U60/60

Abstract

An aerial vehicle, configured to transport cargo, and including a propulsion system and a foldable cage is described. The foldable cage is substantially linear while in a folded configuration, and substantially circular while in a deployed configuration. Moreover, the foldable cage includes a rods that form isosceles triangles. The rods are coupled together by flexible joints.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a multicopter; and

a foldable cage coupled to the multicopter, the foldable cage being substantially flat in a folded configuration and substantially circular in a deployed configuration, the foldable cage substantially fully enclosing the multicopter when the foldable cage is in at least one of the deployed configuration and the folded configuration, the foldable cage including a plurality of like modules, each of the modules including flexible joints that couple a plurality of rods to form geometric elements.

2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the foldable cage include a central top joint and a central bottom joint; and

the plurality of rods of each module form triangles, the plurality of rods of each module are interconnected by flexible joints that orient the plurality of rods of each module to form a substantially arcuate structure.

3. The aerial vehicle of claim 2, wherein each triangle has a corresponding apex angle that forms a length between the central top joint and the central bottom joint in the folded configuration.

4. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein a length of the plurality of rods corresponds to a radius and a height of empty space within the foldable cage.

5. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the foldable cage includes a first module and a last module; and

the first module is adjacent to and attached to the last module when the foldable cage is in the deployed configuration.

6. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each triangle has a corresponding apex angle that forms a width of a module when the module is in the deployed configuration.

7. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each triangle has a corresponding apex angle less than about 120°

.

8. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a propulsion system; and

a foldable cage coupled to the propulsion system, the foldable cage including a central top joint and a central bottom joint, the foldable cage including like modules, each module including;

rods connecting the central top joint to the central bottom joint, the rods forming a substantially arcuate structure, and

flexible joints interconnecting the rods, the flexible joints orienting the rods to form geometric shapes when the module is in a deployed configuration.

9. The aerial vehicle of claim 8, wherein the rods include curved rods, the curved rods being proximate the propulsion system.

10. The aerial vehicle of claim 8, wherein the propulsion system includes rigid beams that connect the propulsion system to the flexible joints.

11. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the propulsion system includes springs and motors, the springs interfacing with the rigid beams to absorb energy during a collision.

12. The aerial vehicle of claim 8, wherein:

the propulsion system includes rigid beams that connect the propulsion system to the central bottom joint; and

the central bottom joint includes mating members, each mating member including a pair of magnets, the magnets interconnecting the mating members when the foldable cage is in the deployed configuration.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 8, wherein:

the foldable cage is substantially flat when in a folded configuration; and

the foldable cage is substantially circular when in the deployed configuration.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 8, wherein the foldable cage includes a recess in a top portion thereof, and the aerial vehicle further comprising:

a parachute housing coupled to the foldable cage within the recess.

15. The aerial vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a cargo transportation mechanism coupled to the foldable cage.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein the cargo transportation mechanism is one of a net, a bag, or a rigid structure.

17. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a propulsion system; and

a foldable cage coupled to the propulsion system, the foldable cage including like modules, each module including;

flexible joints, and

rods interconnected by the flexible joints, the flexible joints orienting the rods to form a substantially arcuate structure.

18. The aerial vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a multicopter including the propulsion system.

19. The aerial vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a side locking mechanism that interconnects a first module to a last module of the foldable cage when the foldable cage is in a fully deployed configuration, the side locking mechanism being partially comprised of flexible joints, and the aerial vehicle further comprising at least one switch configured to disengage the propulsion system when the foldable cage is in a folded configuration.

20. The aerial vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a cage locking mechanism comprising:

a top cylinder;

a bottom cylinder;

a nut in communication with the top cylinder; and

a screw in communication with the bottom cylinder, the screw acting in conjunction with the nut to cause the top and bottom cylinders to lock the foldable cage in a deployed configuration.