SYSTEMS FOR TRANSPORTING, DEPLOYING, AND DOCKING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES MOUNTABLE ON A GROUND VEHICLE

• US 20180009549A1
• Filed: 07/05/2016
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Richard M., Williams, Paxton S., Prokhorov, Danil V.
• Granted Patent: US 10,207,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/027 using net or mesh
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/22 for handling aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 3/00 Ground installations specially adapted for captive aircraft
• 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 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/38 by wireless transmission
• 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 70/99 Means for retaining the UAV on the platform, e.g. dogs or magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles

Abstract

A housing for a ground vehicle-mountable aerial vehicle is provided. The housing includes a base portion defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity. The cavity is structured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle therein. The cavity is configured so as to open upwardly when the housing is mounted on the vehicle. The housing also includes a drafting wall structured to extend from the base portion at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.

Claims

1. A housing for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the housing comprising:

a base portion defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity, the cavity being structured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle therein, the cavity being configured so as to open upwardly when the housing is mounted on a ground vehicle; and

a drafting wall structured to extend from the base portion at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.

2. The housing of claim 1 further comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle catcher assembly positioned between the drafting wall and the cavity.

3. The housing of claim 2 wherein the catcher assembly includes a first post mounted along a first side of the housing, a second post mounted along a second side of the housing opposite the first side, and a catching member suspendable between the first and second posts.

4. The housing of claim 3 wherein the first and second posts are extendable from and retractable into the housing.

5. The housing of claim 1 wherein the cavity has a dimension which narrows when proceeding from an exterior of the housing through the opening in a direction toward the base portion.

6. The housing of claim 1 further comprising an electromagnet positioned in the base portion.

7. The housing of claim 1 further comprising a charging mechanism for charging an unmanned aerial vehicle power source.

8. The housing of claim 7 wherein the charging mechanism comprises an induction coil.

9. The housing of claim 1 wherein the cavity includes at least one wall surface which tapers inwardly when proceeding from an exterior of the housing through the opening in a direction toward the base portion.

10. The housing of claim 9 wherein the cavity includes a plurality of wall surfaces which taper inwardly when proceeding from an exterior of the housing through the opening in a direction toward the base portion.

11. The housing of claim 1 further comprising a powered winch configured for controlling an extended length of a tether structured to connect a UAV to the housing.

12. A housing for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the housing comprising:

a base portion defining a cavity and a first opening leading into the cavity, the cavity being structured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle therein; and

a plurality of walls extending from the base portion and structured to define a second opening configured to open toward a rear of a ground vehicle when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.

13. The housing of claim 12 further comprising a drafting wall structured to extend from the base portion at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.

14. The housing of claim 12 wherein the second opening is configured to enable an unmanned aerial vehicle to transit therethrough, from an exterior of the housing into an interior of the housing.

15. The housing of claim 12 further comprising a door operable to close the second opening.

16. A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising steps of:

providing a housing including a cavity structured to receive the aerial vehicle therein, and a drafting wall structured so as to reside at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on a ground vehicle;

operating the aerial vehicle so as to maneuver the aerial vehicle into a drafting position behind the drafting wall; and

operating the aerial vehicle such that the aerial vehicle moves from the drafting position into the cavity.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the housing includes a base portion defining the cavity and a first opening leading into the cavity, and a plurality of walls extending from the base portion and structured so as to define a second opening configured to open toward a rear of a ground vehicle when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle, and wherein the step of operating the unmanned aerial vehicle such that the aerial vehicle moves from the drafting position into the cavity comprises the step of maneuvering the aerial vehicle so as to move it through the second opening.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the housing includes a base portion defining the a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity, the cavity being configured so as to open upwardly when the housing is mounted on a ground vehicle.