Unmanned aerial vehicle having spherical loading portion and unmanned ground vehicle therefor

• US 8,418,959 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pusan National University
• Original Assignee: Pusan National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation
• Inventors: Kang, Beom-Soo, Ku, Tae-Wan, Song, Woo-Jin, Byun, Young-Seop
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stehle, Jamie S
• Application Number:
  US12/874,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 244/17.11, 244/17.23, 244/108, 244/114.R, 244/115, 244/116
• US Class Current: 244/116
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/24 Coaxial rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• 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 70/97 Means for guiding the UAV to a specific location on the platform, e.g. platform structures preventing landing off-centre
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a spherical locking portion for landing on an unmanned ground vehicle is disclosed. The spherical locking portion can be the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Further, an unmanned ground vehicle for landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising a landing portion configured to have some of a spherical locking portion of the unmanned aerial vehicle inserted therein is disclosed.

Claims

1. An unmanned vehicle system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a spherical locking portion; and

an independently operable unmanned ground vehicle comprising;

a substantially hemispherical depression to accept insertion of some of the spherical locking portion to facilitate landing the unmanned aerial vehicle on the unmanned ground vehicle irrespective of whether the unmanned ground vehicle is inclined from a horizontal state; and

a plurality of restraint arms configured to stably position the unmanned aerial vehicle when some of the spherical locking portion is inserted in the substantially hemispherical depression.

2. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spherical locking portion is a body of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises foldable alighting portions necessary for the unmanned aerial vehicle to independently land.

4. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spherical locking portion comprises a coupler coupled with a power supply unit of the unmanned ground vehicle and configured to recharge the power supply unit with a power source.

5. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a power supply unit is provided within the substantially hemispherical depression, the power supply unit being coupled with a coupler of the unmanned aerial vehicle and configured to supply a power source for recharging the unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of restraint arms are further configured to be movable from a first position in which they do not hinder takeoff and landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle to a second position in which they stably position the unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned ground vehicle further comprises a moving device for rotating and moving the landed unmanned aerial vehicle to a desired location.

8. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the moving device comprises driving wheels respectively placed at ends of link portions, said driving wheels coming in contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

9. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the driving wheels are rotated in a direction in which the driving wheels can align an elevation angle and an azimuth angle.

10. The unmanned vehicle system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the desired location is a location where the unmanned aerial vehicle is in equilibrium with the unmanned ground vehicle, or a location where the coupler of the unmanned aerial vehicle is coupled with a power supply unit of the unmanned ground vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle is landed on the unmanned ground vehicle, or a location where the unmanned ground vehicle is horizontal to the unmanned aerial vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from the unmanned ground vehicle.