DRONE WITH FOUR WINGS MANEUVERABLE BY FLAPPING ACTION

• US 20190023392A1
• Filed: 10/27/2014
• Published: 01/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ioannis Micros
• Original Assignee: Ioannis Micros
• Inventors: MICROS, IOANNIS
• Granted Patent: US 10,526,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 33/02 Wings; Actuating mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 33/025 the entire wing moving either up or down
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/08 having multiple wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/40 Ornithopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/10 for stealth, e.g. reduction of cross-section detectable by radars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles

Abstract

An improved drone with 4 flat wings reciprocating up and down, complete with motor and electronics. Appendages on each wing'"'"'s surface allow air to pass across it during the up-motion, and block it in the down-motion; this creates lift and permits flight and manoeuvres. The drone resembles either a flying bird or an insect, depending on wing motion and on passive attachments appropriate for the respective resemblance, making for inconspicuousness. The drone can execute complex work, either as solitary or in a team, either in flight or at rest in various places, after approaching and adhering expertly.

Claims

1. A wing configured for use as a flapping wing of a drone and including a set of longitudinal rods, a set of transversal rods, a plurality of leaf pairs, a set of under-wires and a set of over-wires, the longitudinal and transversal rods being coupled cross-wise to create a plurality of open conduit-like passages that in turn form a perimeter of the wing that is substantially oblong in shape, the leaf pairs running lengthwise substantially across the whole span of two corresponding adjacent longitudinal rods and configured to create flaps that flap open and close in opposing directions about corresponding open conduit-like passages, wherein the set of under-wires and over-wires are arranged in pairs and run under and over corresponding ones of the conduit-like passages to control the range of travel of associated leaf pairs during down stroke and upstroke flapping, respectively, of the wing.

2. The wing of claim 1, wherein the leaves are transparent.

3. The wing of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wing is camouflaged.

4. The wing of claim 1, wherein the leaves are connected via hinges to corresponding hinge points located at opposite ends of the longitudinal rods.

5. The wing of claim 1, wherein the under wires and the over wires are thin transparent plastic fibers.

6. The wing of claim 1, wherein the wing is substantially flat with curved outer edges.

7. A drone including four wings in x-configuration maneuverable by the flapping action generated by a main body, each wing being configured to generate lift force in response to the opening and closing of leaf pairs that, in turn, open and close under upstroke and down stroke motions, respectively, of each wing generated by the main body.

8. The drone of claim 7, wherein the wings flap in at least one of an insect-like flight mode and a bird-like flight mode.

9. The drone of claim 7, wherein horizontal thrust in flight is generated by the main body moving each wing round its respective longitudinal axis, and wherein lift is generated by the main body, at same time, flapping the wings up and down.

10. The drone of claim 7, wherein the main body includes a mechanism that flaps the wings in a manner that causes the drone to hover in one spot, and a subsystem that facilitates the attachment of the drone, while hovering in place, in at least one of a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal surface or wire.

11. The drone of claim 10, wherein the subsystem includes means for ejecting glue on the at least one of a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal surface or wire, and means for connecting the main body to the ejected glue.

12. The drone of claim 10, wherein the subsystem further includes legs that facilitate the drone sitting upright in fixed position.

13. The drone of claim 10, wherein the drone, once attached, includes on-board mechanisms that capture information via at least one input source and either store this information or retransmit it wirelessly in real-time.

14. The drone of claim 13, wherein the subsystem includes a mechanism to facilitate the attachment of the drone to a moving object, whereby the drone

15. The drone of claim 10, wherein the flapping action includes orientating the wings

16. The drone of claim 7, wherein the wings have a substantially transparent configuration.

17. The drone of claim 16, wherein the drone includes a subsystem that facilitates fixedly attaching the drone to a moving object and communicating information to the moving object.

18. The drone of claim 16, wherein the drone includes a subsystem that facilitates attaching an object by the drone to a moving object to facilitate tracking or monitoring of the object.

19. A method of controlling flapping action of a drone including four wings in x-configuration, each wing being configured to generate lift force in response to the opening and closing of leaf pairs that, in turn, open and close under upstroke and downstroke motions, respectively, of each wing generated by the main body, the method comprising:

identifying a desired orientation of the drone; and

orientating the four wings to adjust the lift, thrust, and roll forces of the drone to achieve the desired orientation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wings flap in at least one of an insect-like flight mode and a bird-like flight mode.