LAUNCH-CONTROLLED UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20170322563A1
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nixie Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nixie Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: KOHSTALL, CHRISTOPH
• Granted Patent: US 10,191,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 25/00 Miscellaneous fancy ware for personal wear, e.g. pendants, crosses, crucifixes, charms suspension loops or rings A44C3/008; settings for holding gems or the like A44C17/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• 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 10/80 UAVs characterised by their small size, e.g. micro air vehicles [MAV]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/29 Constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/10 for releasing or capturing UAVs by hand
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/60 by wearable objects, e.g. garments or helmets
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0669 specially adapted for vertical take-off
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control

Abstract

Launch-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A computer-implemented method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle in a representative embodiment includes detecting at least one parameter of a motion of the UAV as a user releases the UAV for flight. Based at least in part on the at least the one detected parameter, the method can further include establishing a flight path for the UAV, and directing the UAV to fly the flight path.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

detecting at least one parameter of a motion of the UAV as a user releases the UAV for flight;

based at least in part on the at least one detected parameter, establishing a flight path for the UAV; and

directing the UAV to fly the flight path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the flight path includes a target location, and wherein the flight path is the only flight path used by the UAV to reach the target location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one parameter includes detecting an acceleration.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one parameter includes detecting a direction.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting includes detecting an acceleration and a direction, and wherein the acceleration is correlated with a target distance on the flight path, and wherein the direction is correlated with a direction of the flight path.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a flight path includes determining a target orientation of the UAV at a target location on the flight path, and wherein the target orientation includes one for which the UAV is facing a user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the motion includes a release from the user'"'"'s hand during launch.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the flight path includes projecting a vector of the release onto a surface.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the surface is a flat surface.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one detected parameter includes an acceleration imparted to the UAV, and wherein a distance of the target location from the user in the surface is correlated with the acceleration.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the flight path includes a first segment in a direction away from the user and a second segment back to the user, with both the first and second segments executed autonomously without external input after the user releases the UAV for flight.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the flight path includes a first segment in a direction away from the user and a second segment back to the user, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to sensing the user catching the UAV, automatically turning off propellers carried by the UAV.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sensing the user catching the UAV, and wherein the sensing includes sensing an acceleration.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the flight path includes a segment in a direction away from the user, and wherein the method further comprises directing the UAV to turn toward the user based on the direction of the segment.

15. The UAV of claim 14, further comprising directing the UAV to capture an image of the user when turned toward the user.

16. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a flyable support structure;

a propulsion system carried by the support structure, the propulsion system including;

a power source; and

at least one propeller;

a sensor carried by the support structure and coupled to the power source, the sensor being configured to detect at least one parameter of a motion of the UAV as a user releases the UAV for flight; and

a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and programmed with instructions that, when executed;

receive an indication of the at least one parameter;

based at least in part on the at least one parameter, establish a flight path for the UAV; and

direct the UAV to fly the flight path.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the flight path includes a target location, and wherein the flight path is the only flight path used by the UAV to reach the target location,

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the flyable support structure is a wearable support structure.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer.

20. A method for manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

programming a controller of the UAV with instructions, that, when executed;

detect at least one parameter of a motion of the UAV as a user releases the UAV for flight;

based at least in part on the at least one detected parameter, establish a flight path for the UAV; and

direct the UAV to fly the flight path.