Unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 8,991,758 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precisionhawk Canada Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PrecisionHawk, Inc.
• Inventors: Earon, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US13/892,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20140332620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 244/119, 244/2, 244/1.R, 244/117.R, 244/120, 701/3, 701/14, 361/748, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 244/119
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/83 Electronic components structurally integrated with aircraft elements, e.g. circuit boards carrying loads
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/40 Empennages, e.g. V-tails foldable or collapsible UAVs B64U20/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0268 for electrical inspection or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/047 Box-like arrangements of PCBs
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09027 Non-rectangular flat PCB, e.g. circular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising: a fuselage having a first side board and a second side board spaced apart and connected by at least one transverse board; the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board being printed circuit boards; at least one of the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board having formed and mounted thereon conductive traces and at least one component, respectively, for controlling and monitoring the unmanned aerial vehicle; first and second wings mounted to the fuselage; and, a tail mounted to the fuselage.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

a fuselage having a first side board and a second side board spaced apart and connected by at least one transverse board;

the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board being printed circuit boards;

at least one of the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board having formed and mounted thereon conductive traces and at least one component, respectively, for controlling and monitoring the unmanned aerial vehicle;

first and second wings mounted to the fuselage; and

,

a tail mounted to the fuselage.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a conductive trace routed proximate a perimeter of at least one of the first side board and the second side board for detecting damage to the at least one of the first side board and the second side board.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a conductive trace routed proximate a connection between the at least one transverse board and at least one of the first side board and the second side board for detecting damage to the connection.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a conductive trace routed proximate a connection between the at least one component and at least one of the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board for detecting damage to at least one of the connection and the at least one component.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a propeller and motor for providing thrust.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 5, wherein the motor is an electric motor.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a battery mounted in the fuselage for providing electric power to the electric motor and to the at least one component.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side board and the second side board are vertical and parallel and the at least one transverse board is horizontal.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one component includes a processor.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a payload bay formed proximate bottom edges of the first side board and the second side board, the payload bay for mounting a payload module.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first side board and the second side board is provided with at least one conductive trace for receiving an electrical connector of the payload module.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the payload module is a camera.

13. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wings are detachable.

14. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one component includes at least one sensor.

15. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one boom for mounting the tail to the fuselage.

16. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the tail includes a horizontal stabiliser and a vertical stabiliser.

17. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 16, wherein the at least one component includes at least one servo motor for adjusting flight control surfaces of the horizontal stabiliser and the vertical stabiliser.

18. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one opening formed in a nose of the fuselage to allow air to pass therethrough to cool the at least one component.

19. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side are elongate and are tapered toward fore and aft of the fuselage.

20. A method for forming an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

assembling a fuselage having a first side board and a second side board spaced apart and connected by at least one transverse board;

the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board being printed circuit boards;

at least one of the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board having formed and mounted thereon conductive traces and at least one component, respectively, for controlling and monitoring the unmanned aerial vehicle;

mounting first and second wings to the fuselage; and

,

mounting a tail to the fuselage.

21. A fuselage for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

a first side board and a second side board spaced apart and connected by at least one transverse board;

wherein the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board are printed circuit boards; and

,

wherein at least one of the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board has formed and mounted thereon conductive traces and at least one component, respectively, for controlling and monitoring the unmanned aerial vehicle.