Unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus, system and method for retrieving data

• US 6,868,314 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bentley D. Frink
• Original Assignee: Bentley D. Frink
• Inventors: Frink, Bentley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu V.
• Application Number:
  US10/186,154
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701/13, 244/154, 244/155.R, 244/117.R, 244119-121, 244/123, 244/126
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 79/00 Methods or means of catching fish in bulk not provided for in groups A01K69/00 - A01K77/00, e.g. fish pumps; Detection of fish; Whale fishery
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/00 Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/60 UAVs characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/70 Constructional aspects of the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/35 for science, e.g. meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/60 Take-off or landing of UAVs from a runway using their own power
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09145 Edge details

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for retrieving data from remote difficult to reach terrain, such as wilderness areas, etc. and in particular to a system comprised of one or more surface based data collectors in communication with one or more wireless transceivers adapted to transmit the collected data to an unmanned aerial vehicle adapted to fly within a predetermined distance from the data collector and receive data collected therefrom. The present invention further relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle adapted to fly a flight pattern relative to a moveable surface object or for controlling the position of a moveable surface object relative to the flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Finally, the present invention relates to an improved unmanned aerial vehicle having airframe structural elements with electrical circuits adhered to the surfaces of the structural elements.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprised of:

a) an airframe at least partially constructed from a plurality of rigid multilayer printed circuit boards shaped in the form of airframe structural elements selected from the group consisting of fuselage bulkheads, wing ribs, fin ribs, spars and stringers; and

b) an outer-skin covering over said airframe, at least a part of said covering being formed of a flexible substrate having a surface, and a printed circuit with conductive traces patterned into electrical circuits adhered to said surface.

2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein said covering is a plastic film.

3. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein said printed circuit is formed of conductive ink.

4. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least apart of said covering is a flexible solar cell.

5. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a part of said covering is made of a light-emitting diode display.

6. The aerial vehicle of claim 5, further including a video camera in communication with said light-emitting diode display.

7. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

an airframe at least partially constructed from a plurality of rigid multilayer printed circuit boards shaped in the form of airframe structural elements selected from the group consisting of fuselage bulkheads, wing ribs, fin ribs, spars and stringers, and a plurality of conductor traces adhered to said plurality of printed circuit boards are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, conductive inks and conductive plastics.

8. The aerial vehicle of claim 7, wherein said structural elements are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fiber, paper, phenolic, plastic and wood.

9. The aerial vehicle of claim 7, wherein said plurality of printed circuit boards include component pads and electronic components adhered to said component pads.

10. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein said electronic components are selected from the group consisting of integrated circuits, transistors, diodes, resistors, inductors and capacitors.

11. The aerial vehicle of claim 7, further including a transmitter.

12. The aerial vehicle of claim 11, wherein said transmitter is an ultra-wideband transmitter.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 7, further including a receiver.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein said receiver is an ultra-wideband receiver.