DRONE CHARGING STATIONS
First Claim
1. A charging system for drones, comprising;
- a base structure connected to a power grid, the base structure having a vertically-oriented central pole;
an elongate charging mechanism extendable and retractable horizontally from the central pole, and rotatable about the central pole, ending in a charging interface compatible with a charging port of a drone; and
a computerized controller at the base structure enabled to communicate with a drone and to initiate, control and stop charging power;
wherein as a drone approaches the charging-system, the computerized controller directs the moving drone into a path through a charging zone proximate the central pole, extends and rotates the elongate charging mechanism to intercept the drone, manages connection of the charging interface to the charging port of the drone, initiates charging power, manages speed and direction of the moving drome along the path through the charging zone, adjusts the extension and direction of the charging mechanism to maintain contact of the charging interface with the charging port of the drone, monitors progress of charging, and upon completion of charging, disconnects the charging interface from the charging port of the drone, allowing the drone to fly away from the charging system.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A charging system for drones has a base structure connected to a power grid, a connector extendable from the base structure and ending in a charging interface compatible with a charging port of a drone, and a computerized controller at the base structure enabled to communicate with a drone and to initiate, control and stop charging power. As a drone approaches the charging-system, the controller directs the drone into position for charging, manages connection of the charging interface to the charging port of the drone, initiates charging power, monitors progress of charging, and upon completion of charging, disconnects the charging interface from the charging port of the drone.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A charging system for drones, comprising;
-
a base structure connected to a power grid, the base structure having a vertically-oriented central pole; an elongate charging mechanism extendable and retractable horizontally from the central pole, and rotatable about the central pole, ending in a charging interface compatible with a charging port of a drone; and a computerized controller at the base structure enabled to communicate with a drone and to initiate, control and stop charging power; wherein as a drone approaches the charging-system, the computerized controller directs the moving drone into a path through a charging zone proximate the central pole, extends and rotates the elongate charging mechanism to intercept the drone, manages connection of the charging interface to the charging port of the drone, initiates charging power, manages speed and direction of the moving drome along the path through the charging zone, adjusts the extension and direction of the charging mechanism to maintain contact of the charging interface with the charging port of the drone, monitors progress of charging, and upon completion of charging, disconnects the charging interface from the charging port of the drone, allowing the drone to fly away from the charging system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
6. (canceled)
-
8. (canceled)
-
12. A method for drone charging, comprising;
-
connecting a base structure having a vertically-oriented central pole to a power grid; extending an elongate charging mechanism from the central pole and connecting with a compatible charging port of a drone; and communicating with the drone by a computerized central controller directing the moving drone into a path through a charging zone proximate the central pole, extending and rotating the elongate charging mechanism to intercept the drone, managing connection of the charging mechanism to a charging port of the drone, initiating charging power, managing speed and direction of the moving drone along the path through the charging zone, adjusting the extension and direction of the elongate charging mechanism to maintain contact of the charging interface with the charging port of the drone, monitoring progress of charging, and upon completion of charging, disconnecting the charging interface from the charging port of the drone, allowing the drone to fly away from the charging system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21)
-
-
16. (canceled)
- 18. (canceled)
Specification