VEHICLE AND UAV REFUELING AND RECHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20180229852A1
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• Published: 08/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Fox, Jeremy R., Jones, Andrew R., McConnell, Kevin C., Moore, JR., John E.
• Application Number:
  US15/434,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20180229852A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• 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: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/845 Trolleys or like movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A drone or UAV can use a mobile docking platform mounted to a vehicle to receive fuel. The fuel provided from the vehicle to the UAV. By using a mobile docking platform mounted to a mobile vehicle, the UAVs can fly for a larger period of time without having to return to a home or base for fuel and/or refuel when the UAV is not needed for a main task.

Claims

1. A method of refueling an unmanned aerial vehicle using a moving vehicle comprising the steps of:

an unmanned aerial vehicle computer determining fuel is needed;

the unmanned aerial vehicle computer sending a query to a server computer for an available refuel docking platform on a moving vehicle;

the unmanned aerial vehicle computer reserving an available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle;

the unmanned aerial vehicle computer receiving information regarding docking the unmanned aerial vehicle on the available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle;

the unmanned aerial vehicle computer instructing the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly to the moving vehicle with the reserved, available refuel docking platform;

the unmanned aerial vehicle computer pairing the unmanned aerial vehicle with the refuel docking platform;

the unmanned aerial vehicle computer monitoring refueling of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the moving vehicle; and

the unmanned aerial vehicle computer unpairing the unmanned aerial vehicle from the refuel docking platform of the moving vehicle once the unmanned aerial vehicle has been refueled.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein fuel provided to the unmanned aerial vehicle is from fuel used to power the moving vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the query further comprises data regarding a remaining amount of fuel of the unmanned aerial vehicle, travel range of the unmanned aerial vehicle and current location of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding docking the unmanned aerial vehicle on the available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle comprises:

fuel available for refueling and coordinates of the platform in real time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is held in place using a magnet and clamps.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel provided from the moving vehicle to the unmanned aerial vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

fossil fuels and battery charging.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the unmanned aerial vehicle computer unpairing the unmanned aerial vehicle from the refuel docking platform of the moving vehicle once the unmanned aerial vehicle has been refueled, the unmanned aerial vehicle computer exchanging payment with an owner of the vehicle for fuel provided to the unmanned aerial vehicle from the moving vehicle.

8. A computer program product for refueling an unmanned aerial vehicle using a moving vehicle, a computer comprising at least one processor, one or more memories, one or more computer readable storage media, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by the computer to perform a method comprising:

determining, by an unmanned aerial vehicle computer, fuel is needed;

sending, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, a query to a server computer for an available refuel docking platform on a moving vehicle;

reserving, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, an available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle;

receiving, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, information regarding docking the unmanned aerial vehicle on the available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle;

instructing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly to the moving vehicle with the reserved, available refuel docking platform;

pairing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, the unmanned aerial vehicle with the refuel docking platform;

monitoring, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer refueling of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the moving vehicle; and

unpairing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, the unmanned aerial vehicle from the refuel docking platform of the moving vehicle once the unmanned aerial vehicle has been refueled.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein fuel provided to the unmanned aerial vehicle is from fuel used to power the moving vehicle.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the query further comprises data regarding a remaining amount of fuel of the unmanned aerial vehicle, travel range of the unmanned aerial vehicle and current location of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the information regarding docking the unmanned aerial vehicle on the available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle comprises:

fuel available for refueling and coordinates of the platform in real time.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the fuel provided from the moving vehicle to the unmanned aerial vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

fossil fuels and battery charging.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising, prior to the unmanned aerial vehicle computer unpairing the unmanned aerial vehicle from the refuel docking platform of the moving vehicle once the unmanned aerial vehicle has been refueled, exchanging, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, payment with an owner of the vehicle for fuel provided to the unmanned aerial vehicle from the moving vehicle.

14. A computer system for refueling an unmanned aerial vehicle using a moving vehicle, comprising a computer comprising at least one processor, one or more memories, one or more computer readable storage media having program instructions executable by the computer to perform the program instructions comprising:

determining, by an unmanned aerial vehicle computer, fuel is needed;

sending, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, a query to a server computer for an available refuel docking platform on a moving vehicle;

reserving, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, an available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle;

receiving, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, information regarding docking the unmanned aerial vehicle on the available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle;

instructing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly to the moving vehicle with the reserved, available refuel docking platform;

pairing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, the unmanned aerial vehicle with the refuel docking platform;

monitoring, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer refueling of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the moving vehicle; and

unpairing, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, the unmanned aerial vehicle from the refuel docking platform of the moving vehicle once the unmanned aerial vehicle has been refueled.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein fuel provided to the unmanned aerial vehicle is from fuel used to power the moving vehicle.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the query further comprises data regarding a remaining amount of fuel of the unmanned aerial vehicle, travel range of the unmanned aerial vehicle and current location of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the information regarding docking the unmanned aerial vehicle on the available refuel docking platform on the moving vehicle comprises:

fuel available for refueling and coordinates of the platform in real time.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the fuel provided from the moving vehicle to the unmanned aerial vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

fossil fuels and battery charging.

19. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising, prior to the unmanned aerial vehicle computer unpairing the unmanned aerial vehicle from the refuel docking platform of the moving vehicle once the unmanned aerial vehicle has been refueled, exchanging, by the unmanned aerial vehicle computer, payment with an owner of the vehicle for fuel provided to the unmanned aerial vehicle from the moving vehicle.